Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy solving math problems in multiple ways

Hi all,

My DS's (just turned 8 and in grade 2) report card came home and while I have known all along that his current teacher just doesn't get him, there was one thing on there that I think may be a gifted issue. There is a category called "solves math problems in multiple ways" and he got a below average score. Now, my DS tests at 4th-5th grade level in math concepts (doesn't know all his times tables) and was able to do all of the 2nd grade math in kindergarten. I plan to bring this up to her, but my guess is that because he is so familiar with carrying and it is so easy, he doesn't want to use the much slower methods of solving math problems (things like estimating generally make him crazy unless the numbers are really big).

Has anyone else encountered this sort of issue before?

Cat

My son definately did this. He felt that doing it mentally was the best way and wasn't interested in learning other ways, at all. Estimating made him crazy as well because it's so "inaccurate". Now that he's older, he's found that mental math is hard to do with very large numbers, multiplication and long division, and estimating can come in handy. LOL

Catalana,
Can your DS explain why the algorithm works? If he can, that might be the best way to convince the teacher that he understands the math. The "multiple ways" standard generally is about trying to make sure kids have number sense and are not just memorizing facts and routines. Kids who can explain how and why the algorithm works have clearly met and exceeded that standard, so maybe that would satisfy the teacher?

yes, he can definitely explain how and why things work - regrouping, borrowing, etc. etc.

I spoke with the teacher and the hilarious part was that she said, well, all the kids got that score because we haven't taught that yet - that satisfied my son, which was really the only issue - he kept telling me that when she wants me to do it the long boring way I do it. Heh. Cat

This estimating issue will come up multiple times in elementary school for your kids if our experience is typical. Seems like gifted kids find it an especially useless exercise. And the logic for how to estimate is so fuzzy in their math books (unlike rounding, which is precise and has rules). Drove my D crazy, but fortunately it was short lived and we are past it now. And when she finally was allowed to take algebra, she had a teacher who really recognized her ability to look at math in different ways, and dubbed one of her methods the "our last name" Method for solving one type of equation.