Visualization is an important focus in Singapore math and the number line is one tool we used frequently to visualize relationships between numbers. However in 6th or 7th grade, when students are introduced to negative numbers, things can get a bit tricky when dealing with negative numbers on the number line. For example, -3 – …
We often see bright kids in 5th or 6th grade getting the deer-in-the-headlights look when it comes to dealing with equations with multiple negative or minus signs. Often it is good to stop and think about the different roles the humble minus sign take on in integer arithmetic. In fact, at this level, there are …
Multiplication by negative numbers is usually introduced in middle school, and may be tricky to teach. In particular, the bar models that were so helpful when we solve multiplication and division problems for whole numbers and fractions in elementary grades are suddenly not very useful anymore. In our teaching, we do not use bar models …
How do you teach multiplication by negative numbers? Read More »
