It feels like a shortcut that lets them avoid the "old-fashioned" way. 2. Multiplying by 11: The "Split and Sandwich"
At a restaurant, ask them to mentally calculate the 10% or 20% tip before you look at the receipt. Mental Math Kids Can't Resist!: Tips, Short-cut...
Making math feel like a game rather than a chore is the "secret sauce" for helping kids master numbers. When kids realize they can solve problems faster than a calculator can be turned on, their confidence skyrockets. It feels like a shortcut that lets them
Cut one number in half and double the other. The answer stays the same. Example: 14 x 5 Half of 14 is 7. Double of 5 is 10. . (Much easier than 14 x 5!) Making math feel like a game rather than
Take the two-digit number, split the digits, and put their sum in the middle. Example: 35 x 11 Split the 3 and the 5: 3 _ 5 Sandwich the 8 in the middle: 385
Give the kid the "trick" and give yourself a calculator. Race to see who gets the answer first. (Let them win!)