Multiplication Strategies

Here are the multiplication strategies that we have learned this week. Students will have a quiz on multiplication on Friday.

Just like with addition and subtraction, students can choose a strategy to help them solve problems. 

There will be a couple of questions that require them to use a certain method, so please make sure your child knows how to do each one. 

Subtraction Across Zeros and Making Inferences

Here is a quick video tutorial of the squaring off trick I taught your children today to help make subtracting across zeros a little bit quicker! I actually just learned this little trick and I think it's a lot quicker than the old way!

For reading this week, we are working on making inferences. Here is our note sheet for the week!

Your child should be able to take clues from the book and their own knowledge to make inferences. 

Here is an example from class today.

Subtract on an Open Number Line

Here is what we did in math today! 

We subtracted on an "open number line." This is just like what we did for addition, only our numbers are being subtracted, instead of added.

Please understand that these mental math strategies are not going to be tested on the Unit Test in a couple of weeks. I am teaching these strategies to students so they can choose methods that work best for them. If they are struggling with one method, then they should choose the method that works best for them!

If you have questions, please let me know! 

Using the Break Apart Strategy to Subtract

The break apart strategy just means that you write numbers in expanded form to add or subtract them. 

Today, we learned how to use this method when subtracting. Please watch the video below for a few examples of subtracting using this strategy with and without regrouping! Just click on the image below to view the video.

I realize that this strategy seems silly because it takes longer, but we are trying to help kids really build an understanding of numbers. The 7 in the number 743 doesn't really mean 7. It means 700. Getting students to practice this way will hopefully help them develop a better understanding of the way numbers work and also the why behind regrouping.