I am at a loss how to help Yr5 DD with her maths homework

[VivaLeBeaver]

Please help.

She says that she didn't understand it at all when they did it in class and was taken out the class as she was crying so much......

She has to multiply the following numbers by 5.5

7.9
3.4
1.2
5.5

Obviously no calculator allowed.

viva

maths sure isn't my strong point but I have received some really great maths advice on her fron other posters like maryz, so am bumping for you

BTW what age is Yr5?

the way to do it is the same as any multiplication. your dd will know how to multiply 55 by 79, all she has to do is make sure she includes the decimal point in her sums.

decimal points make the sums seem scarier than they are.

hope this helps x

also, speak to the teacher

if she isn't explaining it well enough your dd won't pick it up, you need to phone the school and speak to the teacher direct (always helped me...)

Age 10.

Seems very hard for me. I could do it myself without a calculator but would take several steps and loads of faffing about to do it. I'm sure there's probably an easier method but even googling I can't find anything that seems simple.

I think it is splitting

so on one line x5 ,
next line x 0.5
then add together

I speak to the teacher nearly every sodding week. Last time I said that DD totally didn't understand the division they'd been doing and the teacher brightly said "oh don't worry, we've finished divivion"

I had to point out that that wasn't really the point, DD needs to understand it. Teacher said she'd get teh TA to show DD some stuff and DD says it hasn't happened.

teacher needs her arse kicked then

and to me 10 is really young to be doing that sum!

Don't know what method they've been using, but simplest, non-formal method would be:

x by 11 and halve the answer!

ALTERNATIVELY ...

x the number by 10, the halve it to get the x5 part of the calculation
e.g. 7.9 x 10 = 79 79/2 = 39.5

Then 7.9 x 0.5 = the same as halving 7.9 = 3.95

39.5 + 3.95 = 43.45

Obviously, if they're doing formal written methods, that's a different kettle of fish and much trickier!

Can she do normal long multiplication?

She needs to get rid of the decimal place by multiplying by 10

so 79x55

then at the end she needs to put it back in by dividing by 10 twice (because she multiplied both numbers)

She starts off with 2 digits on the right of the decimal point (the 9 and the 5) so the answer will have two digits on the right hand side too (ie 43.45, the 45 is on the right hand side)

7.9
x 5.5

Pretend the decimal places aren't there and treat it like any long multiplication.

First line is 5 x 9, carry the 4, 5 x 7 and add the 4 to get 395

Second line you start by putting a zero, then 5 x 9, carry the 4, 5 x 7 and add the 4 to get 3950

Then you add the two together to get 4345

Then you add the decimal place... it'll be two in which leaves you with 43.45

  7.9

x 5.5
395
+3950
43.45

For the record... I think these modern 'non formal' methods do many kids a dis-service. I'm fairly intelligent but I can't do any of them. I need the rules to do maths correctly. Try you dd with the formal method and see if it makes any more sense to her.

where'd that dash come from?

disservice

Right I've just tried with the second method as thought she might find that easier. She doesn't even know how to work out what half of 7 is. I try explaining to her and her best guess was 3/15ths.

She's gone off in tears now.

Oh dear.

I reckon they would be doing the dreaded grid method for multiplication, but only children who had really grasped the concept of how to multiply would be moved onto decimals. Not many children would be able to move onto decimals in Y5. It sounds like the teacher is not differentiating sufficiently for your DD.

If the teacher is not lietening to you and not providing homework (or probably classwork) that is at the right level for her - so she is not able to learn effectively, I would go and see the HT.

Sorry that was I'mNotACelbrity's second method.

She can't do any long multiplication. She can't really add up.

My DDs were taught the grid method this might help. If you go further down the page it talks about multiplying decimals.

SummerRain - there is no way she'd be able to do that method.

I'm a secondary maths teacher and we teach this in year 7 and again in year 8. I most definitely would not expect most children in year 5 to be able to do this. It sounds like the teacher is not differentiating the work for the class and you should definitely speak to the teacher or the school about this. I wouldn't bother to do this homework in this situation and maybe spend a little time instead doing addition instead if your daughter wants to do some maths.

Thank you. We're going to ignore the homework and I'll tell teh teacher why.

Going to practice some more basic multiplication with the grid method from the website LemonSquish linked to. Thanks.

I'm a bit at the teacher's attitude. She seems to be ignoring the fact that your daughter struggles with maths. At DD's school the children who struggle with maths and English get booster classes. The teacher needs a kick up the backside. She is doing your daughter a disservice. The only way your daughter is going to get her self confidence back is to get proper help, not to be ignored

Incidentally, my daughter is in year 6 and doesn't get multiplications like those without a calculator.

There's a lot to be said for the ritualised learning of the times tables we all did in school

I think you're doing the right thing, ignore the homework and spend the time getting her up to speed on the basics. You can buy those tables booklets for next to nothing. Get her learning one set every couple of nights... it'll improve her confidence loads.

Is there any way you can get her a tutor? I know you really shouldn't have to, but I used to get myself totally worked up about numbers (not to the same level as your DD, but it was horrid) and my mum managed to get me a tutor (from a different primary school) who was so patient and just gave me confidence and he helped so much.

Could you maybe ask at a local university? I'm sure you could find a maths student willing to sit with her and just go right back to basics. I doubt you'd have to pay them very much.

Sorry I can't offer more help - it's a bump if nothing else.

Thanks for the advice and bumps.

She used to go to Kip McGrath, went for a year but I'm not sure it helped that much and got expensive and hard to commit to as I work shifts. I think there is a maths tutor in our village so may make some enquiries.

That's very hard year 5 homework!

"There's a lot to be said for the ritualised learning of the times tables we all did in school"

I'll second that. They do this at DD's school. In year 5 and the first part of year 6 they have tables tests every week. It sounds like the teacher is trying to teach your daughter to run before she can walk.