Math- Tape Diagrams

This week students will be introduced to Tape Diagrams.  Tape diagrams are a very helpful way to model addition and subtraction problems.  Since it is a visual model it requires kids to pay attention to how to set them up; this method and model greatly helps students make sense of word problems and setting up the problems to solve.  Especially the multi-step problems we will do this year!

Here are a few videos to help you get a better understanding of what Tape Diagrams are and how they work.

This is a quick video showing tape diagrams with single digit addition & subtraction to help understand how they work.
 


Here is a longer video showing kids in a 4th grade classroom using tape diagrams to make sense of math.  The days of teaching a formula and asking kids to memorize it are over.  From years of doing that, we have learned it doesn't work.  Kids only remember those formulas or algorithms for a short time and need to be retaught the same thing year after year.  If we teach kids how numbers work with models, they understand numbers and are able retain and apply a concept in multiple contexts.