Week 4 Blog Post - Multiplication Method

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Videos - Multiplication Method

Week 4 Blog Post 

I really liked the videos (Lattice Method, Russian Peasant Method, and Cool Multiplication Technique) for the different multiplication methods. In the first lattice method video it was really nice to see the breakdown and how he explains to set up the lattice. When he incorporated the decimal that seemed like a great way for students to learn where to place decimals at the beginning. I feel that we expect kids to know right off the bat that oh you just count over and how many spots the decimal was originally over. I have seen many a blank stares. But if you would start it with the lattice method and begin explaining how it works and see how it is two over and two over, that’s there it ended up in your final answer. I just think there may be a few more Ah Ha moments in the classroom with this technique.

The second video the Russian Peasant Method was really interesting. I liked that with this method not only were you working with multiplication of a problem but also working on halving and doubling numbers. I feel that this would help students practice halving and doubling numbers without it being a practice as if we were drilling students with cards. This method is a nice way for student to check or even perform the multiplication problem. I feel that some students may like this way better, specially if they do not know their multiplication facts well. The halving and doubling may be the hardest part, but than you get to the bottom and all you have to do is add to get your answer.

I know when I was a student all we had was the standard algorithm and no other way. I remember we wrote our numbers for our multiplication facts on the back of the paper for the answers, than we cut them out and drilled until we knew our facts. Also, those dreaded times test, do you remember those? When it came to the bigger multiplication of two, three and four plus digit numbers, we relied on the standard algorithm and the hope that you remembered those facts that you drilled over and over. I know I myself would have been better off using different methods to find answers to the problems. It was sad to watch students who figured out other ways to answer the problem and not get the points because it wasn't the standard way. It is refreshing to know that teachers are working with students and helping them understand the process through multiple techniques.

The last video was good for a laugh. I’m sure there are many kids out there that wish they could just compute a question to get an answer, I know I've had my moments.

Here are a few other multiplication methods I found on You Tube check them out, they may come in handy some day. The last one reminded me of my first post and different methods that were used for place value in different cultures. 

Gelosia Method of Multiplication  - Lattice Method

Amazing Method of Multiplication

Egyptian Method of Multiplication

Place Value MAB for iPad

Great way to include technology into a classroom, specially when schools are going one to one with iPads.

There is a greater push to bring technology into the classroom. We live in a day and age that nearly everyone has their own smartphone, iPad, kindle, laptop or computer, even televisions are wired to the internet. With having so much technology at out fingertips, why not incorporate within the classroom. Now just using an iPad in a classroom is not going to integrate technology unless it is used properly.

I found this application Place Value MAB for the iPad. This application is used for students to learn place value with MAB blocks. What are MAB blocks? MAB stands for Mutli-base Arithmetic Blocks. MAB blocks are blocks that show base ten number values. There are many types of these blocks, some come as wood, plastic and even foam. In this example it comes as an application that can be manipulated.

What are the MAB blocks? There are multiple blocks that are used.
There is the:
One unit = One
One long= One Ten
One flat = One Hundred
One cube = One Thousand

The application gives you a quick run down of what MAB is, the units that are used and the terminology and values of the blocks. The application also gives examples and games that show you how this application can be implemented within the classroom.

If you are still confused as to what MAB is please check out this website they explain what MAB's are, how to get students to work with them and how to help students to understand how ten longs can equal one flat and so on, as well as an activity link.

Understanding Place Value

Image courtesy of funbrain.com

Understanding Place Value

Blog Post One by: Michele Jarosch

Having students understanding place value early on in elementary school is essential. It is a primary concept students need to know and teachers work hard with students, yet place value, as numerous studies have shown, is elusive and a hard concept for students to grasp. Just like students who make connections between sets, envisioning the set, matching that to a number and than being able to write that number, and understanding they all mean the same thing.

Place values take time to learn. In the article Understanding Place Value the authors introduced students to other place value systems. What is a better way to learn our own place value systems, than through learning and understanding other cultural place value systems.

Students are allowed to use manipulatives to understand and learn place value as well. Here are a few YouTube examples of using base 10 blocks to understand place value.

Place value blocks intro

Base 10 blocks lesson 1 Intro and Explore

Place Value with Base 10 blocks

My first experience with another form of place value wasn’t until last fall in my grad Math Methods course, maybe having learned these earlier on I may have been a better Math student. Being able to incorporate this idea of introducing other place value systems may really help students to understand our own place value systems.

Incorporating these other place value systems not only helps students with the Math of place values and the knowing for standardized testing. Integrating the Math aspect of place value systems along with the History of the system, time and people, Geography of where developed and what the land was like, Culture of who these people were and what they did, Music of the time frame, Art of the time period, and more all in to a unit. Incorporating all of these together you are not only teaching some lesson on place value, you are allowing students to discover place value and build upon that knowledge, actively ingrain the information.