Class 3 maths teaches multiplication with boxes, and my son says my way is wrong

fig_camera_612518 Jul 2026

Two-digit multiplication has started in class 3, and the school teaches it by drawing a grid: split 23 into 20 and 3, fill the boxes, then add. I showed him the way I learnt, carrying numbers, and got a firm 'Ma'am says don't do it like that.' His answers with the boxes are mostly right, just slow. My question is whether he'll get stuck with the slow method once the numbers get bigger, or whether schools move children to the usual method later on their own. I'd rather not confuse him with two methods if the school already has a plan.

1 comment

maple_drum_799518 Jul 2026
Our daughter did the box method last year. In class 4 the teacher brought in the column method and most of the class switched without fuss, because by then they knew why it works. I didn't teach her mine at home, mostly because I didn't want to argue with 'Ma'am'. Slow for a few months, then fine.
- saffron_bottle_27118 Jul 2026
  Similar at ours. The grid turned out handy again when algebra arrived, though that's some years off for you.