Student Work (Feb. 5)

This is a students beginning assessment test for multiplication. I did not see any math this week while I was there, and so my MT shared this with me. She gave this to the students at the beginning of the year to see where they were at with their multiplication skills. She said that the students should have learned them ALL in 3rd grade. She expected to do some review with the students, but as it turned out the students are still working on multiplying with 3 digit numbers. 

I think it is best to help the student learn the basic multiplication facts before moving on to anything else, as she did. I think that the students who were struggling with multiplication should have created their own flash cards to help them memorize the facts on their free time. It would also be helpful to have a chart with the facts on it so that the student has a reference while working on more difficult problems. I think that the student should work their way up through the different numbers until they have them all memorized (this will be helpful when moving forward in math).

I appears that this student understands how to multiply by two, so that shows me they understand that it is just adding the number that is being multiplied by two to its (doubling it). I think that we can help build upon this students understanding of that by showing him that when multiplying by three, you are just adding the number three times, and so on. However, when talking with the students about adding the numbers some many times, the students may start adding what is to be multiplied. To help with this confusion, I think it would help to show the students an array, and have them work with that. 

I think that this student did not spend much time learning the times tables, so that is where they must begin. It is tedious work, but once them know the multiplication facts, story problems and devision comes easier.