Homeschool Math Newsletter, Vol. 13
November 2007
Hello! This is Maria Miller. Hope you are doing fine! I am actually keeping busy, not only with homeschooling, but writing more math materials, namely 4th grade stuff for the LightBlue series. However, some of that content will also "spill over" to the Blue Series books later.
In this month's newsletter:
1. Math Mammoth news: comparisons to other curricula
2. Multiplying in parts and the standard algorithm
3. Up for some challenge in math? Try contests!
4. Archimedes knew more than we thought
5. Tidbits
1. Math Mammoth vs. other curricula.
I wrote some thoughts concerning the comparison between Math Mammoth Lightblue series and other homeschool math curricula here.
It's not complete, and I'd appreciate your thoughts, as well, to add to the page.
2. Multiplying in parts and the standard algorithm
The standard multiplication algorithm is not awfully difficult to learn. Yet, some books advocate using so-called lattice multiplication instead. I assume it is because the standard method is perceived as being more difficult. But let's look at it in detail.
Before teaching the standard algorithm, consider explaining to the students multiplying in parts in detail:
To multiply 7 × 84, break 84 into 80 and 4 (its tens and ones). Then multiply those parts separately, and lastly add.
So we calculate 7 × 80 = 560 and 7 × 4 = 28, and add 560 + 28 = 588.
If you practice that for one whole lesson before embarking on the actual algorithm, how much better prepared the kids will be!
Read more.
3. Up for some challenge in math? Try contests!
Could a nice math contest spark up some interest and motivation in your student(s)?
I really like the idea of math contests and problems of the week. When my kids get a little older, I'll probably use some problem of the week contest from the Internet.
Typically with problem of the week contests you simply do the problems at home and send the solution over the Internet. You, as the teacher, can be in control of time and additional resources used.
The contest problems are more challenging than standard textbook problems. They "stretch their brain", perhaps even strech mom's brain! But that's all for good. We must not let our students live under the impression that all word problems are solved by the method just studied in the lesson.
Read more.
4. Archimedes knew more than we thought
They found a long-lost works of Archimedes under the text of a prayer book, and used modern technology to "see" under the prayer text.
After the text was recovered, it was discovered that Archimedes actually found some of the principles of calculus, and used them to figure out volumes and areas.
A news article: A long-lost text by the ancient Greek mathematician shows that he had begun to discover the principles of calculus.
5. Tidbits
Till next time,
Maria Miller
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