A Few Words About Math....
As you may have noticed, our approach to teaching Mathematics has changed in the last few years. There has been a recent shift that focuses more on using Mental Math skills and reinforces communication skills to "explain your thinking". This "new Math" isn't entirely new, but rather a different way of exploring the familiar concepts which encourages a deeper understanding, as opposed to simply being able to perform tasks by rote.
I want to make it clear that there isn't anything inherently wrong with the "old math" (i.e. regrouping). It was and still is a very efficient way to perform calculations. I still use many of these strategies in my own life. If students are comfortable with traditional methods of performing operations, and can consistently perform them with accuracy, that's wonderful. They will not be penalized. It is not however, the primary method I will be using to instruct students to perform Math tasks in school.
I understand it can be difficult to help your child with Math homework when you are approaching tasks in two completely different ways. To help bridge the gap between "new" and "old" strategies, this page will include strategy sheets that will help explain, in (hopefully) user friendly words, the new methods I am teaching and the rationales behind why we are doing it this way. I encourage you to open the files below and sit down with your son/daughter to discuss the strategies we are learning at school today. Have your child be the teacher and show you the "new" way we are doing things. My hope is that this can be more positive experience for everyone involved. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you require any further assistance to clear up any confusion that may arise.
Check out this video for a further explanation. The New Math
As you may have noticed, our approach to teaching Mathematics has changed in the last few years. There has been a recent shift that focuses more on using Mental Math skills and reinforces communication skills to "explain your thinking". This "new Math" isn't entirely new, but rather a different way of exploring the familiar concepts which encourages a deeper understanding, as opposed to simply being able to perform tasks by rote.
I want to make it clear that there isn't anything inherently wrong with the "old math" (i.e. regrouping). It was and still is a very efficient way to perform calculations. I still use many of these strategies in my own life. If students are comfortable with traditional methods of performing operations, and can consistently perform them with accuracy, that's wonderful. They will not be penalized. It is not however, the primary method I will be using to instruct students to perform Math tasks in school.
I understand it can be difficult to help your child with Math homework when you are approaching tasks in two completely different ways. To help bridge the gap between "new" and "old" strategies, this page will include strategy sheets that will help explain, in (hopefully) user friendly words, the new methods I am teaching and the rationales behind why we are doing it this way. I encourage you to open the files below and sit down with your son/daughter to discuss the strategies we are learning at school today. Have your child be the teacher and show you the "new" way we are doing things. My hope is that this can be more positive experience for everyone involved. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you require any further assistance to clear up any confusion that may arise.
Check out this video for a further explanation. The New Math
**All files are Word documents and should open easily on any computer.
Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties.
Mental Math Strategy Cheat Sheets
Compensation (subtraction)
Compensation (addition)
Compatible Numbers
Front End Addition
Front End Multiplication
Double & Half (multiplication)
Additional Strategy Cards
To be added as we cover them in class...
Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties.
Mental Math Strategy Cheat Sheets
Compensation (subtraction)
Compensation (addition)
Compatible Numbers
Front End Addition
Front End Multiplication
Double & Half (multiplication)
Additional Strategy Cards
To be added as we cover them in class...