I have had several parents ask how to better help their child with math homework. Most of the time, homework has been assigned from the practice workbook, which correlates with the textbook. Here is some help with how to access the online version of the math textbook:
1. Harcourt Math Book On-line: http://www.eharcourtschool.com
Log in at this site using the username and password in your child’s agenda.
A. You can find specific lesson information by chapter. Each chapter correlates with homework assignments.
B. Under “Back Matter”, there is a comprehensive glossary with illustrations to assist with specific vocabulary.
C. In each chapter, on the left-side menu bar, there is a section entitled “Show Me”. This will bring up online, interactive instruction that steps through many major tasks and also provides interactive practice.
D. In each chapter, on the left-side menu bar, there is a section entitled “Intervention”. This will bring up online, interactive remediation of specific skills, step by step. There is also interactive practice.
E. Three other left-side menu options include “Practice On Your Own”, “Activities”, and “Vocabulary” for each chapter and unit.
That being said...have you found yourself attempting to help your child solve an addition or subtraction equation, only to be met with the words "you're not doing it the way she showed me in class!", or, "what's 'borrowing'?" My goal with mathematics instruction is to try to help the children conceptualize what they are doing as they solve algorithms, rather than just memorize a series of steps. When the students see an equation such as this one: 361 - 149 = , I don't tell them to "cross out the six and change it to a five", because the value of the six is actually sixty and it will become fifty, while the one will then become eleven. It's important that they understand that the 361 isn't actually changing into a different number, it's just that instead of having 3 hundreds, 6 tens, and 1 one, it is 'regrouped' to be 3 hundreds, 5 tens, and 11, which will still total up to 361. The process I have shown the students for solving subtraction equations is to expand each number to show the value of its digits, and solve from there. So, the same equation would look like this: (300 + 60 + 1) - (100 + 40 + 9) Please note that you would want to have the child set up this problem for solving vertically instead of horizontally across. I have found that setting up the equation this way is helpful for those students who tend to have trouble catching on to the process of regrouping, especially when subtracting.
As we progressed into multiplication and division, we again explored the meaning behind those concepts before they were assigned to learn their times tables. The students practiced solving multiplication facts by using repeated addition (3 x 4 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3) and drawing arrays (objects arranged in four rows, with three in each row), and they practiced division by using repeated subtraction (12/3 = 12-3-3-3-3), drawing arrays, and coming up with the multiplication fact that matches. Now that we have the basic concepts taught, the students can work to memorize their multiplication facts. Flashcards are a traditional method, but there are also some great websites that can help with this. I have linked to one on my the 'Math Links' section of my blog- Timez Attack. You can choose to have your child play the free version, or for a small fee you can download a more upgraded version of the game. In the past, my students have really enjoyed this website and it has proven to be very effective to help them memorize their times tables.
As we move on in the year, we will be learning other methods for solving two digit multiplication and division problems. These methods are called 'partial products' and 'partial quotients'. If you want to get a head start as to what these methods look like, then as before, you can go to my math links and find the videos that I have posted there. They provide a basic tutorial of what you can expect to see your child working on when we begin more complex versions of multiplication and division during the fourth quarter.
I hope you have found this information to be helpful and makes it easier to help your child with his or her math homework. Should you have any more specific questions or concerns, please email and let me know. I'm always happy to help!
