Reply to Math education - Why is US not solving this problem?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Elementary teachers don't need to know how to teach advanced level math. What they need to know is how to recognize students that are ready for it. They also need to know how to be a successful advocate for them. Our system can handle these kids if it is flexible and open to acceleration.  Even more radical acceleration including allowing the kids to take middle or high school classes if appropriate. Also our system needs to be accommodating to older kids who are ready for college math and allow them to take the college courses and give them credit towards graduation...which many systems will not.[/quote]

Elementary teachers don't need to know calculus but they should have a "deep understanding" of math and know how to best explain mathematical concepts even to the youngest students. For example, when American teachers teach subtraction in second grade involving a problem like 42-15 they tend to say things like " you can't  subtract 5 from 2, so you have to borrow a one from the 4."  This is not correct; it is a misinforms students. You can subtract 5 from 2 you get a negative number of course but it is possible. And you aren't borrowing a one, you are decomposing or regrouping four tens and moving one of the tens. Borrowing means you are going to give it back, which you don't. 
I am teaching my kids math after school with Singapore math books and home instructors's guides which can be found at singaporemath dot com for about 60 dollars a year per grade.
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