Computational skills in Unit 4 include mentally multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1- digit numbers.  Students begin by taking the 2-digit number and breaking it down into its tens and its ones. 

Watch my helper demonstrate this process.

You may wonder why this is called mental math when you just watched my helper writing numbers down.  The goal is that with enough practice, less and less writing of the numbers will be necessary.  As you saw, some students will eventually be able to arrive at the correct answer without writing anything down.  Some students will only need to jot some of the numbers as they think it through, and other students will continue to write out the entire thought process.  All of these variations on the process are valid and may be used during class work as well as on quizzes and tests. 

Special thanks to my student helper for participating in this video.  (You know who you are.)  Thanks also to everyone at home for taking the time to read this blog.  Stay tuned.  There's more video to come.