Lattice.

We’ve been discussing common core and using the 8 standards for mathematical practices in our daily instruction.  These standards of best practice are based on the belief that mathematical knowledge is learned through the actual process of doing, being able to critically think, and give appropriate reasoning.

It is still my responsibility to model a variety of ways to solve problems.

                  

      

 

Lattice multiplication (also known as sieve multiplication) is a method of multiplication that uses a lattice to multiply two multi-digit numbers. It is algorithmically the same as regular long multiplication, but it breaks the process into smaller steps. 

Again, this is nothing “new” to teaching.  Lattice has been around since medieval times…it’s just always fun when we come to this concept and I get to introduce this cool method.

Some schools have banned this method of learning double digit multiplication.  For some reason I have found that my lower performing student’s have such a better grasp on this method than that of a traditional algorithm! 

*Always find ways to make it work!                                   peaCe-out!