-
You Get Only One Chance When Teaching Math
Actually, you get only one chance when teaching anything. I was in an internal adult training class for corporate websites. In the middle of a discussion one student said, “How about if we each take something about Sharepoint that interests us, research it and report back to the group?” Great idea, right? The instructor put
-
LCM and GCF – And Something Really Cool
In a previous post, we learned that you don’t have to use a LCM (least common multiple) to find a common denominator to add fractions. In another post, we learned that you can use primes instead of the GCF (greatest common factor) to reduce fractions. And now I’m going to demonstrate that finding the LCM
-
Adding Fractions: Why Avoiding Common Denominators Works
I wrote this post showing that adding fractions can be done using the algebraic definition of addition of rationals: MathHeadInc (via twitter) has requested a video showing why this works. I aim to please. Here is the video showing why adding fractions using a common denominator is the same as the definition of addition of
-
How to Use a Student’s Experiences to Teach Math – The Story of a Former Drug Dealer
Do you have an especially difficult student? Does one kid stand out as just not getting it? The answer lies not in your approach, but in their perception of their own capabilities. My Former Drug Dealer Student I was teaching Oilfield Math at a large oilfield services company to a group of new hires. One
-
Teaching Math without Rules: Addition of Positive and Negative Numbers
I’ve discovered many ways of teaching math through the years and the most interesting one was the addition of numbers with opposite signs. I learned this from a teacher who said that he never understood the rules – so he made up his own method. He “breaks” the bigger number into two pieces so it
-
Why It’s Okay to Teach Algorithms
We had a lively discussion at last week’s homeschool math chat about teaching algorithms versus allowing a discovery learning process. What I can’t help but think about when I reread this discussion is how this compares to teaching a child manners. Teach kids manners early. Very early. I know someone who elected to wait until
-
Why Focusing on Grades is Okay
David over at Real Teaching Means Real Learning posted last month about the focus of learning over grades. In principal, I agree that learning should be first in the minds of children and grownups. In principal. But this is reality. And I have two issues with David’s opinion. The conversation points for each focus is
-
Quick Addition Tip – Adding 5 to Larger Digits
For some reason I have trouble adding 5 to the larger digits (like 7, 8 and 9). I noticed at some point that the last digit of that addition is the same as if you subtracted 5 from that number. Like this: and and So now when I add them, I merely subtract them and
-
How a Math Teacher Can Change Lives
I was in the 4th grade. We were studying geometry. Mrs. Wilburn was the teacher. I read the definition of a square in the textbook: A square is a polygon with four equal sides and four equal angles. I read the definition of a rectangle: A rectangle is a polygon with four sides and four
-
How to Never Find a Common Denominator Again
Do you keep struggling to teach common denominators? Do your kids just not “get it”? Well, it’s time to quit. Yep! You can teach (and do) fractions without ever finding a common denominator. The key is in the definition of addition for rational numbers. If you have two numbers and the sum of them is . Granted
About MathFour.com
I’m Bon Crowder and the photos above are both of me – in 1989 and today. I’m a Generation X mom of Generation Z kids. I began peer tutoring in high school in 1984.
MathFour.com is the “today” version of me helping peers be comfortable in math. If you’re a Gen-X parent, you’re in the right place!
Wanna connect? Give me a call at 713-557-8048.