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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/15/parents-rail-against-ridiculous-common-core-math-homework/ Parents rail against 'ridiculous' Common Core math homework Stacey Jacobson-Francis, 41, of Berkeley, California, said her daughter's homework requires her to know four different ways to add. "That is way too much to ask of a first grader," she said. "She can't remember them all, and I don't know them all, so we just do the best that we can." Stanford University mathematician James Milgram calls the reform math-inspired standards a "complete mess" -- too advanced for younger students, not nearly rigorous enough in the upper grades. And teachers, he contends, are largely ill-prepared to put the standards into practice. "You are asking teachers to teach something that is incredibly complicated to kids who aren't ready for it," said Milgram, who voted against the standards as part of the committee that reviewed them. "If you don't think craziness will result, then you're being fundamentally naive." |
4 ways to add 2+2, for a first-grader: 1. on your fingers 2. on a number line 3. drawing 2 circles, drawing 2 more circles, counting the circles 4. memorizing 2+2=4 Way too much to ask of a first grader? (By the way, my kid in MCPS was doing all of this before the Common Core standards.) |
I would never encourage kids to use their fingers. Substitute objects. However, this should not be a standard. |
Is it? |
Fine, objects. Nonetheless, four good ways for first-graders to do addition -- yes? In any case, there is no Common Core standard that says "First-graders must know four different ways to add." The Common Core standard is: CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6 Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13). Again, I don't think that any of these strategies is too hard for a first-grader. And if the first-grader's worksheet says, "Find the answer to 6 + 7 by creating an equivalent but easier or known sum", that's a curriculum problem. |
These are teaching strategies. These should not be standards. |
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Here you go. I have a new standard for Common core. :
When prompted, child will Demonstrate bending over from the waist. Show that he can open fingers on hand Demonstrate grasping pencil that is on floor. Rise from the waist to a standing position. Or, for a reasonable person: Child will pick up a pencil that fell on the floor. |
Do you object to the standards themselves? Or do you just object to the educationese language the standards use? |
The standards themselves. What is "educationese"? |
Amen. And in looking in this standard, a child might not be able to accomplish one of the steps, like bending at the waist. He bends at the knees instead. This of course means he's a TOTAL FAILURE and does not meet the standard. Common Core standards -- with their lousy combination of vagueness and some areas and over specificity in others -- grind the creativity and uniqueness out of both children and teachers. |
You object to the idea that at the end of first grade, a child should be able to add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10? |
GREAT summation of the problem. |
Do you really think that "decomposing a number" demonstrates fluency? |
So is everyone on this thread who is complaining a teacher then? I feel like they would be able to better articulate the problem besides holding opinion pieces from Fox News, etc. |
answer:
You don't think that is articulate? |