Long division & multiplication - traditional methods - when are they taught?

[NorhamGardens]

Just that really. Which year are the traditional bus stop method for division etc taught?

It isn't I don't think. Methods have moved on. They didn't teach that way to me either when I was at school rather longer away than I care to remember... It's a bit more modern now, even calculators are giving way to spreadsheets....

When the teacher feels that children are ready for it. Some of my year 6s are using the bus stop method but most are still happier with chunking. About half are using the traditional method for multiplication, while the rest are on the grid method.

It really doesn't matter what methods they use, so long as it's accurate and relatively efficient. Chunking can be both, while the grid method is more time consuming, so more reason to move on IMO.

They don't. I think I remember there was a special parent's session in Yr 4 to teach us the up to date system. I can see that it is easier to learn, quicker to use, and makes intuitive sense, but both DP and I found it easier to stick to our own way that we'd learned at school. Thankfully both dds had picked it up really fast and never needed our help

Hi we have been using both and DD uses each method to check the other. She does chunking/bus stop...........very long and sometimes error in subtracting session. With old fashion division she is able to see bus stop errors. Teacher in year 6 supports both but class do new methods together. I presume that as long as she gets the answer correct and can show working out this is ok :0

My dd's started doing it in year 4. But they're both top set in a large school, I'm not sure the sets lower than set 2 do it until year 6.

However I've very kindly shown them the traditional ways and they found them much easier. DD1 asked the teacher "Did you know there's a much easier way to do these?" and proceeded to demonstrate... luckily her teacher though this was very funny.

Hello Ms NG

dd1 is in the top set of her Y4 class for maths, and has been taught at least two methods (including traditional one) for adding and subtracting. She knows them for division and multiplication too, but was taught those out of school - she finds them much easier.

I do know that at her school, by the time kids get to Y6 they know several different strategies - and get to choose the ones they are happiest with. I think the timing of teaching strategies depends on the set they are in, but it all happens in KS2.

Check your school's calculation policy - it should be on the school website.

Not at our school at all*, we had a maths talk last week, yrs4-6, and they basically said that they use number line methods for everything except multiplication (that's grid method).

Up until last year some children were taught chunking for division but that's been axed for now.

You really need to ask at your child's school to find out what their numeracy strategy is. I asked for a talk about methods for the upper phase (y4-y6) and it was so very helpful for all of us who went along.

*DD is being taught a few things that are beyond the general strategy, I think teacher is trying to test whether she could stretch to a higher SATs paper.

I love modern methods. So much more sensible & intuitive than how I was taught. DD had a hysterical screaming fit at column subtraction problems the other night. I can see why school has ditched it.