11
X14
_____
44
+11
_____
121
The mommy looked over two pages of math work done so consistently wrong, she thought there must have been some method to it, though she could not see what it might be. Perplexed, she called out to the owner of the workbook that she held in her hands.
Said the mommy to the young mathematician who appeared at her side, “I don’t understand how you got these answers. Can you explain them to me?”
The mathematician hung her head and, judging by her silence, pleaded the Fifth.
The mommy spoke into the void. “I can’t help you learn if you don’t tell me. I don’t see what you did to get these answers.”
The mathematician considered this for a moment, then looked up and pointed to the numbers after a plus sign. “I just added these together and put the sum in between,” said she.
Aha! The mommy engaged in an epic battle to squash her natural impulses, but failed mightily. It was several minutes before she could explain the proper methodology to her young charge. It took her that long to stop laughing.
That’s priceless and inventive. I just love “creative math”. She should probably be told that it would take less time next time if she would ask for help before doing all of the problems incorrectly. Then she’d only have to do them once!
Love it!
We had a similar thing happen a few years back with my then second grader. Though you might get a kick out of it: Math Silliness and Smarts.
I love it! Teaching basic math is a hard thing for me, which is surprising to a lot of people because I have a degree in Civil Engineering, and am therefore quite good at math. I can teach Calculus or Differential Equations all day long, and other homeschooling parents are more than happy to send me their kids who are at that point mathematically. However, teaching my first grade daughter her multiplication tables takes all the patience I’ve got! She’s actually quite good at math. Teaching the basic stuff just kills me, though. I’ll be happy when she gets to Algebra or Trigonometry, although I know it will be years. I will have an easier time teaching her that stuff, I think.