Re: Using a Calculator


Tim S wrote:
Mary Ann wrote:


Sorry but I don't think that giving him more work to do solves the
problem. The problem that that I have is that I just can't get to grips
with what ever *** eyed system the educationalists use for
multplication, subtraction or division because every time that I try to
help I do it a way that isn't taught anymore.

This is not your son's problem then, but yours.
Our school runs classes for parents to learn current methods in
teaching (focussing on maths).
Perhaps you could suggest your school does the same, or you could speak
to your son's teacher about the problem.
If your son has any idea that you believe current methods are "***
eyed" or not "doing it properly", then he is receiving very conflicting
views.

I disagree with most of this except the bit about raising conflict in the
son's mind by criticising the school's methods. If the lad is having
trouble understanding a method of explanation, there seems little point in
repeating it ad nauseum IMO. But there's no point in making the teachers
look bad, they are probably doing their best and their system may be OK
with most of the kids.

How does talking to the school make them look bad?
I know our school apsolutely encourages parents to go in and talk to
them about any concerns. I'd have no qualms about talking to my son's
teacher about maths homework if I found that my son was having
difficulty and that I was unable to effectively help him.
I think schools are very aware that parents were taught different
methods (the teachers probably were aswell).

Addition is addition and multiplication is multiplication. Any method you
can use to get him to understand a) what the operations *actually* mean; b)
a system that works to deal with any sizes of operands (to the limit of the
curriculum) & c) shortcuts for common cases, will fundamentally do the job.

The way I would approach it psychologically is "son, perhaps I can show you
another way of doing this. It's not that your teacher is wrong, but
sometimes a different way of explaining can cause the penny to drop".

That's a good idea.
The OP didn't seem to be in the right frame of mind to take this
approach though.

Mary Ann

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