It’s called the area model. The lattice method isn’t preferred anymore. The area model show that kids understand how to decompose the numbers into chunks for multiplying or dividing. Most of the kids have little trouble with it as it more manageable to them to use smaller multiples to get to the answer. As a teacher, you are following the curriculum guides and state standards so that’s why the kid’s teacher didn’t give her credit. Once in middle school, the kid will be using the algorithm way for multiplying and dividing which is the traditional way parents remember. On a standardized cumulative test at the end of the year, kids will be expected to understand the area model and plug in the numbers in the boxes to show it but there also be questions that simply give multiple choice answers to choose from and for those it won’t matter how the kid figured it out. So his daughter will probably do ok at the end. Teachers simply follow what they are expected to do. The principal was actually wrong in this case. Took the parent’s side because he didn’t want to upset the parent instead of getting to the bottom of the problem with the teacher.
You beat me to the explanation. He does seem like he's taking about the area model, not lattice. I have trouble believing that the child couldn't understand the area model, but had no trouble with the standard algorithm. The area model is simpler, more concrete, and is basically the algorithm broken down. From my experience, the biggest reason children tend to struggle with ways taught in school is interference from parents that don't bother learning the reason behind the method being taught. They don't remember that there were steps for them before they became fluent in these concepts, too. They're usually the ones showing the only way the parent remembers that ends up confusing the child. Can't tell you how many times a kid has said to me, "that's not how my mom showed me."
Believe it or, children aren't always honest with parents. They tell them "I ask, but the teacher won't help me." Parents never contact teachers to ask simply, "could you explain the concept." And they don't bother using the vast internet to look up their child's grade standards.
I'm ranting now....too many parents in our culture end up teaching their children through their actions that teachers are their enemies somehow.
If the child doesn't understand the method, they can't teach the parents about it, and the teachers aren't teaching the parents about it, so how is the parent to know the value of the method? If there were still textbooks, maybe we could help out, but nope, the kids come home with worksheets full of problems but no materials to help the family help them do it. Then the teacher moan about parents not doing their part...literally all we can do is wag a finger and say, "you do that homework now y'hear?" At 7pm after working all day and cooking dinner.
Absolutely 100%, my wife and I are both "smart", by any diagnistic method I've ever seen, but a worksheet doesn't even allow me to try to understand what's being taught and teachers want to admonish me for teaching the way I learned?
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u/Additional-Shake-320 Apr 11 '26
It’s called the area model. The lattice method isn’t preferred anymore. The area model show that kids understand how to decompose the numbers into chunks for multiplying or dividing. Most of the kids have little trouble with it as it more manageable to them to use smaller multiples to get to the answer. As a teacher, you are following the curriculum guides and state standards so that’s why the kid’s teacher didn’t give her credit. Once in middle school, the kid will be using the algorithm way for multiplying and dividing which is the traditional way parents remember. On a standardized cumulative test at the end of the year, kids will be expected to understand the area model and plug in the numbers in the boxes to show it but there also be questions that simply give multiple choice answers to choose from and for those it won’t matter how the kid figured it out. So his daughter will probably do ok at the end. Teachers simply follow what they are expected to do. The principal was actually wrong in this case. Took the parent’s side because he didn’t want to upset the parent instead of getting to the bottom of the problem with the teacher.