Question

A child of Class III reads 482 as four hundred eighty two but writes it as 40082. What does this indicate for a teacher?
1. Child is not attentive in the class and is a careless listener
2. Child is a careful listener but has not established sense of place value
3. Child is confusing the expression of number in expanded form and in short form
4. Teacher should teach the concept of place value when the children are able to write numbers correctly

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Child is a careful listener but has not established sense of place value

Mathematics includes complex calculations, the study of patterns, shapes, and various geometrical figures. To develop a liking towards mathematics, the teacher should need to use innovative ideas to teach abstractions of mathematics. Learning place value is foundational skill children need to be successful in math.

In the given problem, if a child of Class III reads 482 as four hundred eighty-two but writes it as 40082 means the child has not established a sense of place value. The place value of a number is the value represented by a digit in a number based on its position in the number.

• Instead of teaching the concept of place value using questions given in the textbook only, the teacher should involve the students in play activities that are relatable to real-world and are focused on the concept of place value i.e., use of money in daily life (10 represents 10 rupees whereas 1 represents only 1 rupee coin and 100 on a banknote denotes 100 rupees). 
• This will compel students to think that a specific position of a number says a lot about its position that is its place value.

Hence, it can be concluded that the child is a careful listener but has not established a sense of place value.