Dr. Cotter on Problem Solving
January 23, 2024
A few years ago while on a shuttle to speak at a math convention, I started talking to a young man next to me.
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Dr. Cotter on 4-Digit Addition
January 16, 2024
Did you read the blog on addition and subtraction facts? Let’s continue this thought with 4-digit addition, using the Cotter Abacus. This approach and process helps
Dr. Cotter on Multivides
January 9, 2024
Did you check out our blog on division? And did you read about short division? Isn’t that just wonderful? Now, let’s talk about some practice
Dr. Cotter on Division
January 2, 2024
Long division used to be considered the ultimate goal of arithmetic. An earlier division algorithm was so complicated it wasn’t taught until college. Today
Dr. Cotter on Addition and Subtraction Facts
December 27, 2023
Addition Addition can be thought of as finding the whole when the parts are known. Place value greatly simplifies finding the sum of two numbers. To
Dr. Cotter on Measurements
December 19, 2023
Measurement is an application of math that is an important part of everyday life. We measure length, area, volume, mass (weight), temperature, time, angles,
Dr. Cotter on Manipulatives
December 11, 2023
When teaching math to a child, there are three important questions to consider: Are manipulatives necessary for teaching math? What is the purpose of
Dr. Cotter on Place Value
November 28, 2023
Place value is the very foundation of arithmetic. Place value packages numbers into groups of tens and tens of tens. This makes calculating large
Dr. Cotter on Multiplication
November 21, 2023
Multiplication has been the mathematical downfall of many children (and adults!). It’s not so much the problem of the algorithms, but rather it’s the
Dr. Cotter on Counting
November 14, 2023
Most people think of counting as the foundation of math; therefore, they teach kids to memorize the long string of 100 counting words. Next,