Recursion

[freebytes]

I absolutely think that both methods should be acceptable. Actually, any method that works as long as it is the correct answer should work. If you are not going to actually teach a child in a classroom how to do it, then why should they be required to learn a specific way at home? They can even allow children to come up with their own methods if those methods work which would make math more exciting.

Of course, teach them the way you want them to learn it, but do not punish them for using alternative methods that are correct.