I have begun tutoring a young woman through our Adult Literacy Program in Florida. During our first meeting today, I realized that she cannot seem to grasp single digit multiplication, but does fine with double digits. Anyone out there have any hints for me. Why would she be able to multiply 12 x 7 and get 84, but 2 x 7 escapes her?
It was not a one time thing...as I went over the tables, same thing happened, struggled with answers until I got to 12 x (fill in the blank), then like a fog was lifted.
I am not an educator and I have no idea how I got involved in this, but I am wondering if you guys have any suggestions for me.
Thanks.
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kkdither (my mom) showed me this post because I just graduated UW-Madison as an elementary school teacher.
My guess is that she has memorized the procedure for how to multiply two digit numbers. There is no procedure for multiplying single digits because it all relies on memorization. (and, if she is an English Language Learner, this could be time-consuming to teach).
You could work with her on patterns you see between two digit multiplication and one digit multiplication or use a multiplication table to help her see patterns with single digit multiplication.
Another suggestion would be to have her put a zero in the tens place when multiplying ones. This way, it will look like two-digit multiplication but still give her the answers for one-digit multiplication.
02 X 07 = 14
2 x 7 = 14
Hope this is helpful!
Thank you. I did some spot testing and had some flashcards (she actually had them). She seems to have the tables down pretty good to a point and then falls apart. I had her read and write the numbers for me, so I knew she recognized them.
I will try utilizing your procedure and see how it goes.
Again, thank you.
BTW, grammar is next for the two of us. English is her first language or at least I do not detect any accent indicating it is not.
She is a high school graduate, which scares the pants off me.
Oh man, that add a 0 idea is so cool.
I know Beejay, isn't it awful? Soon a bachelors degree will be the equivalent of the old high school diploma. Bless you for making the effort to help.
I was stunned when she told me that she had graduated from high school, Orbs.
Where did I learn the alphabet and my addition, etc... IN THE BARN, from my Dad who had a sixth grade education. Go figure, I had a mother with a Masters in Education and a Dad with a sixth grade education. Mom taught math, Dad taught his kids to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Oh, if we go an answer wrong, we got milk squirted at us...Dad was a dead-eye shot too!
The level doesn't matter, it is the application of that education.
There's more to Beejay than meets the eye. No wonder she's one of my favorite people! I can't be of much assistance (sorry). Those of you who have read some of my posts know what I mean.I'm not so much with the grammer. (Or spelling). God bless you BJ!
I had the standard 12 years of Catholic schooling in the 50's and 60's. I don't think today's breed of students could tolerate that. Those nuns would beat some knowledge and sense into them. Not allowed today. Too bad.
I'm beginning to think more and more that we need the draft again, not to supply fodder for the war machine, but as a way of instilling some discipline and skills into our youth. Schools were never meant for domesticating wild animals. Not that the military is, either, but they do a hell of better job of it.
Good for you Beejay for helping out. I'm amazed at the lack of grammar and basic skills in some people.
Quit feeding her wine...
SER, can't I do that...well, maybe I should take a bottle in my little bag...you know they now make those cute little four-paks.
Don't pat me on the back too hard, guys. We'll see if I can get through to her. There is no way she is going to be ready to enter her vocational courses come August. I can't imagine her progressing that far.
And, Orbs, I graduated from HS in 1967 (yeah, I'm that old). Back then we needed much more knowledge than it seems these kids are getting. This appears to be a case of 'she is quiet, well behaved so promote her.'
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