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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
It isn't good.  It isn't even logical or age appropriate.

For example, a 4th grade math question this year:   "1/3 plus 1/3 equals what?   Explain why?"    "Explain why" in this situation is such an esoteric question (especially for 4th graders), that it is illogical for it to be part of the math curriculum.  At this age, many kids don't have the command of language to explain in detail "why" this is the case.  In fact, when asked, the teacher couldn't explain "why" and told us that under 2.0 there isn't really a right answer to this "why" question(!!).  That is more of a mind-game for these kids than an educational exercise.  [/quote]

Because if you have one third, and then you add another third, you have two thirds.

What's esoteric, illogical, and age-inappropriate about that?[/quote]

What's funny about this is that your answer (which seem so logical, I agree) is WRONG.  That was the only answer that wasn't allowed (well, that and well b/c 1/3 plus 1/3 just is 2/3).  Your answer is exactly what we went in to discuss with the teacher.  The fact that it isn't considered right IS the problem.  Under 2.0, the claim that your answer doesn't "go deep enough" and doesn't "go farther."  When we asked the teacher how she would go deeper/farther and what her answer would be and she couldn't answer.  THAT'S WHY IT IS ESOTERIC, ILLOGICAL AND AGE-INAPPROPRIATE!   BTW, the caps are just frustration at 2.0, not at your answer:)[/quote]

I wasn't there either, but PP, your answer doesn't add anything to the numerical answer.  I do think it's a silly question.  The equation IS the sentence.  I feel like this approach to math is geared at (and maybe designed by) math-phobics.  Why do you need to put it into words?  Are pluses and equal signs so scary?  We know what they mean.  Turning the "plus" into an "and" and the equals sign into an "is" doesn't increase understanding.[/quote]

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