This is part of a new series about how to help yourself or your kids improve in mathematics. It’s based partly on my own experience of having to learn how to learn mathematics, partly on extensive tutoring experience, and partly on many conversations with homeschooling parents, as well as parents struggling to understand Common Core mathematics. Many future editions are already planned, but feel free to leave suggestions for future editions in the comments (open for paid subscribers) or by email to hollymathnerd at gmail dot com.
The first five posts are not behind the paywall; all future posts will be; this link will give you 10% off. If you’d like to get them but can’t afford a paid subscription, email me at hollymathnerd at gmail dot com and I’ll give you a free one.
Previous posts in the series:
Part 1: Addition and Subtraction
Part 2: Multiplication, Division, and Fractions
Part 3: The Major Key of Mathematical Fluency
Part 4: A Proof for this Approach to Numeracy
Part 5: “I’m Just Not A Math Person!”
Part 6: How the Sign Rules Work, and Why
The Box Method of Multiplication
When COVID started and the entire country became homeschoolers overnight, I offered my help to Twitter followers who needed assistance in doing math with their kids. Over and over, the thing that made people freak out and decide they needed help was the box method of multiplication.
Today I’m going to explain how and why the box method works.