Reply to math curriculum 2.0 -- explaining math strategies

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Here's a great article explaining the problems with the Common Core math standards:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/a-new-kind-of-problem-the-common-core-math-standards/265444/
A New Kind of Problem: The Common Core Math Standards

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Just one paragraph from that article:

[quote]
But what does this mean in practice? Another recent article explains, "This curriculum puts an emphasis on critical thinking, rather than memorization, and collaborative learning." [b]In other words, instead of simply teaching multiplication tables, schools are adopting "an 'inquiry method' of learning, in which children are supposed to discover the knowledge for themselves."[/b] An educator quoted in the article admits that this approach could be frustrating for students: "Yes. Solving a problem is not easy. Learning is not easy."
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The Common Core standards do NOT require teachers to discover knowledge for themselves, and they DO require memorization of basic facts.

Here is a list of the fluency standards, and a definition of fluency.

http://tncore.org/sites/www/Uploads/2.25.13Additions/fluency%20documents%20final.pdf

By third grade students should be able to "quickly and accurately" (i.e. on timed tests) be able to:

Multiply/Divide within 100 
(Know single digit products from memory) 
Add/Subtract within 1000

The know single digit products from memory standards is a big one.   Up till now, it was perfectly acceptable for a child to solve 6x7 by making 6 rows of 7 circles, and then COUNT them.   That's fine for learning the concept of multiplication, but at some point kids actually have to just memorize their times tables.   Common Core Objectives state that the times tables to 10 should be mastered by the end of 3rd grade.   By EVERYONE.

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