Speaking of schools and homework

[Buckalew11]

My sister's 4th grader learned how to multiply just like I did last year but this year they have started a new method called Lattice math. Anyone else's kids doing this?
Niece "got" it to old way and this threw her for a loop. I can see why. Of course, Dr. Math seems to think it is more fun and easier. Now I know what my dad was complaining about when he would help us and grumble, "new math--*&#$@%*

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/52468.html

 

[Serena]

I think the new math is just another way to confuse us that has already learned it the old way.

 

[georgina]

It looks interesting to me, but then I am a math person. My kids did not learn this method. I can see where it might be confusing to have learned one way last year and then try to learn a new way this year, but if it was the first time learning multiple digit multiplication, it might work better for the kids (not necessarily the parents trying to help them). Everyone uses calculators anyway once they get older!

 

[eeyore kelly]

I had to learn lattice math this semester in college.

Addition looks like this:

and multiplication looks like this:

 

[Buckalew11]

It looks interesting to me, but then I am a math person. My kids did not learn this method. I can see where it might be confusing to have learned one way last year and then try to learn a new way this year, but if it was the first time learning multiple digit multiplication, it might work better for the kids (not necessarily the parents trying to help them). Everyone uses calculators anyway once they get older!

That's her problem--she caught on last year but the teacher said only 2 kids in the class caught on so they are trying this method. Finally he said she could do it the old way.
Next year they all go to an intermediate school and they DON'T do it this way there. I have a client who teaches at my niece's school and she said she teaches 1st and 2nd grades (multi-age, looping) and she isn't teaching it.

It is done on graph paper but the kids have to draw a box for the problem and then draw that line diagonally through the boxes to line all the numbers up!!! Can you imagine how many kids get hung up on getting that box drawn perfectly?!

Maybe it is great but looks like a nightmare to me!!

 

[Buckalew11]

I had to learn lattice math this semester in college.

Addition looks like this:

and multiplication looks like this:

Actually, your second example is exactly how my niece's class is doing it!

The addition goes like this: (*must not be lattice!!!)

1026 + 345= ?

1000
0000
0020
0006
0300
0040
0005
_____
1371

Gosh, that wears me out and as far as I can see, your still adding the same numbers. Better her than me!!

 

[eeyore kelly]

The addition goes like this: (*must not be lattice!!!)

1026 + 345+ ?

1000
0000
0020
0006
0300
0040
0005
_____
1371

ok that would confuse me and I would cry

 

[mom2boys]

So much for thinking outside the box!

 

[bananiem]

My kids' school uses this curriculum. It's called Everyday Math. I thought it was a bunch of bunk too. But at conferences last year dd's 5th grade teacher said when given several options the majority of kids will choose to use the lattice math. It makes sense to them. I'm all for giving kids options and then letting them pick the one that makes sense to them. Whatever it takes for them to "get" it.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I don't use the addition lattice at all but for big multiplication problems I like lattice.