I know a lot of parent think we teachers are crazy for all of our wachy algorithms we teach kids in order to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Fourth grade gets especially hit with all of these new methods as they learn to do longer multiplication and division problems. There is a partial sums, partial differences, partial products, and partial quotients process for solving each of those algorithms. They throw parents for a loop, but the belief is that they help students see the connection between our number system and place value and why the algorithm works. I was reminded of this again today as I taught the fourth graders partial quotients to perform long division. They will learn traditional too. Ultimately, the goal is for them to pick a method based on their choice and their comfort level. Now it does happen that some kids get confused learning different methods. Most of the the kids in my classes though love to see that there are "creative" ways to solve problems. It is good for them to realize that there are multiple ways to arrive at the same correct answer too.
Still confused? See if these annimations help you understand just what in the world your child is doing... Partial Sums http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/ algorithms_handbook/online_resources/Addition/Page_105_Partial-Sums_Addition/M1_C02_P030_F1.swf Partial Differences http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/ algorithms_handbook/online_resources/Subtraction/Page_149_Partial-Differences_Subtraction/M5_C01_P017_F1.swf Partial Products http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/ algorithms_handbook/online_resources/Multiplication/Page_157_Partial-Products_Multiplication/M6_C01_P019_F2.swf Partial Quotients http://media.everydaymathonline.com/em/student/ algorithms_handbook/online_resources/Division/Page_177_Partial-Quotients_Division/M5_C01_P023_F2.swf
1 Comment
Denice
12/5/2012 08:35:41 pm
Thank you for sharing this, Tracey. It helped me as I checked over my son's homework. Partial Quotients seems like a more efficient and easier method than traditional.
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