How can I help with division homework when I know a different method from the one the school teaches?
Education"That's not where that number goes," my son said, pointing to the division I had written. I had shown him the method I remember. His homework sheet used a grid, and I couldn't explain its boxes.
He's eight. We reached the correct answer, but he was worried about returning a page that didn't look like the example. I told him the answer mattered more than the layout. Then I noticed the instruction said to show the grid method.
I don't want to confuse him by pretending I understand it, or undo the lesson because my way feels familiar. What should I do tonight if we can't finish the sheet, and what is a useful question for the teacher tomorrow? I can help him work through a calculation; apparently I need help reading the homework too.