How is it possible that a child can understand and complete the process of long division one day, and have forgotten how to do it by the next day? We have been going over this for months (and months!) now, and each day it’s like I’m introducing a new concept. We’ve stepped away from it for a long time, hopeful that he would become “ready” for it, but that didn’t help. This morning we decided to take another break and focus on multiplication facts and learning those so that they come easier. It is good that we can be flexible, I think!
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by momof3feistykids, on August 2 2006 @ 6:12 am
We’ve had the same problem, and I’ve taken the same approach as you … back off the topic for a while and wait for developmental readiness. On the down side, my dd is in 7th grade and has not yet mastered multi-digit multiplication and long division. Keep us posted!
by Atypical Homeschool.net » Math Question, on August 2 2006 @ 6:06 pm
[...] Paradise Found asked the following question in her blog: How is it possible that a child can understand and complete the process of long division one day, and have forgotten how to do it by the next day? [...]
by Tricotomania, on August 19 2006 @ 2:05 am
Math again…
Melissa’s quote of the day the other day reminded me of the approach taken by John Mighton in The Myth of Ability. There is always plenty of discussion of math on the homeschooling blogs and since this book isn’t specifically…
by everywakinghour » Math Myths, on September 8 2006 @ 7:23 pm
[...] “Basically, there is a firm belief in the school system that you can’t move on until you have mastered everything in the current curriculum because it builds. Mighton started a charity called JUMP which provides tutorial support for remedial students. He has had remarkable success and has learned some very interesting things about how to teach mathematics. Quite apart from the usefulness or otherwise of long division, Mighton suggests that a complete mastery of one topic is not required to move on to something harder. In fact, he argues that tackling and mastering a ‘harder’ skill (albeit with problems limited by the level of mastery of the former one) might act as a powerful motivator to go back and learn those ‘precursor’ skills.” (HT: Ron at Atypical Homeschool) [...]