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Joylane
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Joined: 05 Jan 2007
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momo3boys
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Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 574
Location: Western Mass
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 Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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an eye opener!! wow, how ridiculous the school system curriculum can be. Just because it is taught in school doesn't make it right. I refues to teach the "NEW" math, it isn't easier, it's just more confusing. I was given a calculator in 6th grade and it ruined me! subtraction and division is very hard for me to do, so i am learning along with my boys all over again!
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Joylane
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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I learned the standard algorithm for multiplication and division in school. Because I have a firm understanding of how it works then I can appreciate the other methods. However, I don't see how all these "breakdown" methods are helpful to children just learning multiplication and division. Perhaps once they have a firm understanding of the standard algorithm, then sure. I use the 2nd method she showed on multiplication all the time to figure things out in my head. I was never "taught" this.....it just came naturally from understanding multiplication. (I never even knew it was an actual method lol) But I would never use this as a means to teach it to my children before they had a firm grasp on facts.
Why on earth would there be 40+ pages of maps in a math book though? And why would it take 35 pages to show how a calculator works? Thats just insane. |
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Theodore
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Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 1994
Location: Missouri, US
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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We all learned how to do math the proper way, thankfully. For entertainment I actually used to do things like multiply two random 20-digit numbers by hand, just to see if I could  While I do use a calculator now - albeit not terribly proficiently - all that early mental / by hand math made it far easier to learn advanced-level math when I reached it. And even my siblings whose specialty definitely isn't math have managed to make it through Calculus.
The will to learn math depends largely on your confidence level, and the best way to be confident is to know that you have mastered everything farther down. "New Math" just doesn't provide you with that mastery. It's almost as bad as "Whole Language" is for teaching you how to read. And both assume that the student is too stupid to learn the regular, reliable way, which doesn't exactly fill students with a whole lot of confidence and self-esteem.
Whoever came up with this stuff should be horsewhipped for crimes against humanity.
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Lenethren
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Joined: 03 Sep 2006
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Location: Okanagan, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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That was a real eye opener.
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jslcbb
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Joined: 15 Jan 2007
Posts: 12
Location: Arlington, Minnesota
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| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject: everyday math |
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My daughter is currently in a public school that does everyday math. How difficult will it be to teach her the common sense way of doing regular multiplication and division the way I learned. I am going to start hsing her next year and am just curious on what grade level I should start her on in math, because she does not have the basic knowledge of multiplication and division that she should in 5th grade.
Stacy |
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Dolly-VA
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Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 97
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| Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: everyday math |
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| jslcbb wrote: |
| My daughter is currently in a public school that does everyday math. How difficult will it be to teach her the common sense way of doing regular multiplication and division the way I learned. |
First check to see that she hasn't already been taught the standard way. I have spoken with several moms with kids in different schools around here (VA) using Everyday Math and ALL of them are taught the standard way as well. It seems most of the teachers out there have already determined that it's ridiculous. Maybe the textbooks are forced on them but they have some leeway? (The kids also know the EM version, too. That stuff boggles my non-math inclined mind...) If, however, she doesn't know the standard way, I would guess as long as she doesn't have any learning difficulties, it should come pretty easy. (It's got to be easier than EM!) |
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chevyfudd
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Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 1
Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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I have a younger sister who does the last version with the box. She is not doing well in math and I never understood what she was doing. I think they need to stick with the way it has been taught for years. It seems to be working just fine.
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WishboneDawn
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Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 36
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Personally I think both methods have stuff to offer and though we're heavier on old-fashioned techniques I've certainly used some activities and approaches that fall under the 'new'new math' umbrella.
Somewhere there's a rational middle ground that seeks to teach kids the way they learn rather then trumpet one method or another. |
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