CSS for Class

I have a love/hate with the HTML and CSS. None of the background colors that I really liked seemed to want to cooperate, nor would my favorite fonts. I did manage to get things to go where I wanted them to, which kept me from throwing the laptop across the room. So, in summation, I am sure it is just operator error, but I am still a bit frustrated.


My Site:http://ceweb.uml.edu/tmoul28868/index.html

The Ancient Calculator

While I was researching math topics for a video web page, I encountered the abacus. Granted I know what an abacus is, my daughter, on the other hand, did not. I was surpised by this, but should I be really? Well, no. It is an outdated, outmoded tool. But it's also still used today in many countries. I can't help but think that  understanding how to use this tool, con only bolster one's basic math grasp.

Watch the video...see if you're as surprised as I was.

Wow..there's more than one kind of abacus? It's useful in counting systems other than base 10! (ie: hexadecimal) I also learned that abaci, in one form or another, have been around since 500 BC! Dating back to writings from Ovid!

Amazing!

Fast Math

Recently, one of my neighbors was asking me about this infomercial she had seen. A man claimed he could teach kids to multiply large numbers in their head. I managed to catch a short piece of it on TV and I, too was captivated by the thought of it. Wouldn't it be nice if it were true? I would love it if my students could escape the drudgery of long multiplication and really focus on the lesson at hand, because sometimes students get hung up. They encounter a problem that requires that they do a bit of long multiplication and they lose sight of the larger problem. I was intrigued. Naturally, I went searching for possible sources for this amazing method. What I found: Vedic Maths.

What is Vedic Maths?

According to VedicMaths.org:

"Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Indian Mathematics which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). According to his research all of mathematics is based on sixteen Sutras, or word-formulae. For example, 'Vertically and Crosswise` is one of these Sutras. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution."

I looked around the site and I found that these methods were really neat and REALLY fast! 

Let’s start with multiplying single digits…

                A relatively simple example is 6 x 7. Set up traditionally, but also write in each difference from 10

                                6         4

                    X         8         2

Working from left to right, choose either cross difference…in the example, you could choose 6-2 or 8-4, either way, the difference is 4. This is your 10’s place. Now, multiply the 2 and the 4 to get 8. This is your one’s place, the answer is 48.

For multiplying double digit numbers, it’s very much the same, except, you work out of 100.

                Let’s work with 81 and 92.

                            89           11

                 X         92           8

Choose either cross difference, 89-8 or 92-11. In either case, the difference is 81. These are the first digits of your answer. Now multiply the 8 and the 11 to get 88 and these are the last 2 numbers. The answer is 8188.

Neither of these examples had “carries” where the multiplied digits were greater than 1 digit for the singles and 2 digits for the doubles. If they had, it would be very similar to what you do now, you would carry the extra digit over.

Well…that was my explanation of how that guy got those kids to be multiplication wizards in minutes. Try it yourself at home, make up a few problems and you, too will be a human calculator!

I have said it before, I will say it again..patterns are the key to successfully mastering more advanced math topics, like algebra. In my experience in the classroom, I have found that the student who have mastered their math facts have a significant advantage over those who do not. What’s a parent to do? A simple answer is: math games. A complicated answer is: make math important in your daily life.

In previous posts I have described a few of the Everyday Math games that foster basic math fact awareness. Games like Top-It for addition, subtraction and multiplication really  get students (and parents) thinking about their basic skills. But, it’s one thing to be able to know that 11+25 is 36, it’s another thing altogether to recognize that there are many ways to make 36. (2x18, 3x12, 4x9, 6x6 or all of the addition/subtraction facts that go along with that particular number.) To this end, there are a few games and puzzles that you can play or do that will foster recognition.

My favorite flexible math game for thinking forward/backwards and sideways about math is Target Practice. This is a game where you have to “make” the target number from the cards you have been given. In easier versions you only use addition and subtraction of positive numbers. This is ideal for kids who are in K-2^nd grade. As they learn about integers, you can start using numbers below zero. After they learn multiplication and division facts you can incorporate those into the game as well.

If your child is more of a visual thinker, you can introduce Ken-Ken as a way to promote pattern seeking thought. Ken-ken  is a soduko like puzzle that uses addition, subtraction and multiplication.

Each "block" is defined by a number and an operation. The number is the total for that block and the operation is the only operation used in that block. )if the operation is multiplication, all the numbers are multiplied to get the total.) The catch is, the number of blocks across the whole puzzle defines the numbers in the puzzle. In this example, there are four block across, thus the mumbers used in the puzzle are 1 thru 4. No numbers can be repeated in a row or column.

If you'd like to try it on-line go to http://www.kenken.com/index.html for puzzles and tips.

Happy mathing!

Tracey M

Money Makes the World go 'Round (part 1)

Money and math go hand in hand. We use money every day, it is a critical part of our everyday existence. When should we start talking money to our kids? Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Keep it going. But how? You guessed it…my favorite way to keep the math going at home. Games!

For the K-2^nd grade set.

Penny Exchange. Grab that piggy bank and raid it for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters! This game helps the kiddos learn the value of our different coins and that 5 pennies is the same as a nickel.

You need:

1 die

A pile of pennies (at least 15 per person)

A pile of nickels (5 per person)

A Pile of dimes (3 per person)

A pile of quarters (4 per person)

The first player rolls the die and collects the number of pennies equal to the number of the roll. The player then gets to “exchange” their pennies (or other coins) for coins of higher rank. For example, if the first roll was a 6, the player would collect their 6 pennies, then exchange 5 of them for a nickel. Play then goes to the next player, who does the same thing…roll, exchange, pass on. The first person to get to a (quarter, dollar, 5 dollars) is the winner.

For the 3rd-5th group.

Monopoly.  Just do it. I know, the game goes for DAYS, but it can be a great tool for understanding how to use money..For example, can you really afford Park Place right now? Saving until you can afford to put up a house. Don’t go to jail. All valuable lessons.

Another game to play is “Budget.”  I give my daughter a “budget” of 5 dollars at the food store for her favorite snacks for the week. She can choose anything that is NOT candy but she has to stay under the 5 dollars. (I am going to spend it anyway, so I let her do the decision making. ) Fruits and vegetables are free.

Money is very important. The sooner we get kids comfortable with money, the better. Happy Mathing!

(If you need money direction for middlers and high schoolers, tune in next week!)