One of the things I love about math is that there are so many ways to get to an answer! So many times we don't take the time to open our minds to the multiple strategies that are available to solve a math problem! The problem with this is that if a carpenter only has one tool in his toolbox, he is going to be limited in his ability to do his work. When students only arm themselves with one strategy, they limit themselves in their thinking. It's much better to have many ways to find an answer because then you can choose the strategy that you want to use. You also have multiple ways to think through a problem when you have more strategies to think about.
So, in order to expose students to more than one way to solve a problem, I have taught 3 multiplication strategies in my classroom. The Distributive Property, the Box Method, and the Standard Algorithm (this is the way you and I learned to multiply). The Distributive Property and the Box Method are very similar. I have attached videos to the website to show you these strategies. :) In order to get buy-in on the multiple strategies, I have challenged the kids to be surgeons and doctors this past week! :) We talked about how both surgeons and doctors take good care of their patients. Surgeons open up their patients and tend to take a little longer on their patients due to performing surgery. We relate being a surgeon to doing the Box Method. This method involves solving the multiplication problem from the inside out. We fix the "patient" (the problem) on the inside (in the boxes) and then we stitch the patient up (we add the products together). :) We also talk about being doctors when we use the Standard Algorithm. Doctors tend to have quicker visits with their patients. The Standard Algorithm is a little faster of a process than the Box Method. Doctors check their patient head to toe. We solve problems vertically using the Standard Algorithm. :) So, each day, the students are given patients to help (problems to solve) in our class. They must choose whether they will be a doctor or a surgeon to heal their patient. :) It's been fun and I have even taken it to the level of addressing them as "Dr. (Last Name)" when they volunteer to share their work. HA! So, if they start talking about being a doctor or a surgeon that's where it's coming from! We've had a lot of fun learning to multiply big numbers this past week! Who knows?! Maybe it will inspire some to even consider a medical career path in the future! :) Comments are closed.
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September 2018
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