Using the Ladder Method-GCF, LCM, Factoring

Using the Ladder Method in Middle School Math, for GCF, LCM, Factoring

2/26/2016

$Use the ladder method in math class to find GCF & LCM, factor and reduce fractions – great method!$

I'm just writing to express (again) how much I love the ladder method! :-) If you haven't had the chance to use the ladder method before, I highly recommend it. In addition to helping students find GCF and LCM, I think it helps students start to see the relationships between numbers a little more clearly. It's very easy to see what factors different numbers have in common and how those factors 'contribute' to the LCM or GCF. I have used the ladder method for factoring as well, and let me tell you - students picked up the factoring concept MUCH more quickly than when I hadn't used it.

What I really like about this method is that the process is the same for each use, but the outside numbers are used differently. I like the fact that the continued use of the ladder method (for various reasons) leads to the students making greater connections between numbers.....finding factors seems to come more easily.

Last spring, I wrote a guest post about the ladder method on Rachel Lynette's blog, so if you're interested in reading all the details, check it out here. I had shared a ladder method fold-it-up in my guest post, but you can also find it below, if you'd like to download it.

The latest ladder method item I've created is the poster/anchor chart. I had a few different ones last year, so I decided to consolidate!

I haven't shown the students how to reduce fractions using the ladder method, but they'll see it on the poster next week. Then when we discuss fractions, it will already be there!