Half of my class doesn’t know basic multiplication facts. It’s bad. Seriously. They lack the basic CONCEPTS of multiplication. They don’t know the identity property. They don’t know that a number times zero is zero. And yet…the other 1/2 of the class is owning the multiplication work. I’ve finally been able to break the class into groups and we’ve been doing different games, projects and assignments, according to the student needs.
My advanced group is clamoring for “More! MORE!” One of the things the whole class loves to do is play multiplication hangman (Thanks, Mary!). So, I made up a two-digit multiplication hangman assignment for the advanced group. Obviously, I had to fill in some of the numbers for the kids since I wasn’t there to tell them if they were right—I had to give them SOME clues. But then THEY had to solve the rest of the problems. Most of them were pretty excited about the challenge. However…
“Dear Ms. Whiz, I found this homework very confusing and not very helpful when it comes to learning multiplication. I rather my child do a multiplication problem that includes all numbers instead of guessing back and forth wasting time. Sincerely, Mama Helps-With-Homework.”
WASTING TIME??? Good grief.
Congratulations to the mom for being involved with her daughter, but shame on her for writing this note! This was higher-level thinking work. It is ALGEBRA! The kids need to be able to think through something and SOLVE for x (or y, or z). To do this, they have to analyze and synthesize. It is my favorite thing to do.
I tell my students every day, “Never give up. Never ever ever ever give up.” I guess I need to send that message home to the parents as well.
