Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the point is that 8 + 4 = 12 no matter how you do it. Teach them the basic concept and ONE way to do it, then move on. They don't teach them handwriting because they will be using computers in real life. Why teach them myriad ways to do a math problem in their heads when they will be using calculators IRL?

\

Because the point of math education is to understand math. Or at least, that's what I think the point is. If the point of math education is simply to calculate, as you say, then there's no point in math education at all, because calculators can do that.

The basic concept is 8 + 4 = 12. They are teaching them multiple ways of doing it in their heads. I'm sure there are many other ways of doing 8 + 4 = 12 also being taught around the world, but so what? Once they grasp the concept, they should learn ONE method, then move on IMO.

I learned the make-ten strategy from my C2.0 kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Why? Because the purpose of math education is to teach kids to understand math.

I thought the purpose of it was to teach them to do math.....

No, it's not. It's to understand math. Up to a point, you can do math without understanding math, but after that, you're stuck.

That's not how I learned. I learned how to DO the math. We were taught to add subtract and multiply a certain way on paper. We memorized the multiplication tables. I could do the math long before I "got" the math, and I learned how to do it in my head all by myself.

That's the magic word. Some kids are not math minded. They cannot teach themselves number sense "all by themselves". I am the PP who taught myself how to use the 10 strategy. I am a math-minded person, but I know there are lots of non-math minded people who can't "figure out math", let alone at a young age.

And btw, some mcps teachers do teach cursive, of which I am grateful for. Writing is still important. I work in IT. When someone is drawing a diagram on the white board to explain something, I need to be able to read their writing. Some of the guys in IT have such bad writing, I can't read it. It's not in cursive, but even their print is bad.

Same with analog clocks. Why teach it to them since we have digital clocks everywhere.. computer, phone, cable set top box... I still think it's valuable, and it helps teach math.

Anonymous wrote:

Mathemagical -- isn't that calculators in a nutshell?

Yes, it is. Put stuff in, get stuff out, who knows how it was done or if it makes sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the point is that 8 + 4 = 12 no matter how you do it. Teach them the basic concept and ONE way to do it, then move on. They don't teach them handwriting because they will be using computers in real life. Why teach them myriad ways to do a math problem in their heads when they will be using calculators IRL?

\

Because the point of math education is to understand math. Or at least, that's what I think the point is. If the point of math education is simply to calculate, as you say, then there's no point in math education at all, because calculators can do that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Why? Because the purpose of math education is to teach kids to understand math.

I thought the purpose of it was to teach them to do math.....

No, it's not. It's to understand math. Up to a point, you can do math without understanding math, but after that, you're stuck.

That's not how I learned. I learned how to DO the math. We were taught to add subtract and multiply a certain way on paper. We memorized the multiplication tables. I could do the math long before I "got" the math, and I learned how to do it in my head all by myself.

Yes, and that's why the current math teaching methods are better -- because they emphasize understanding, not just the application of mathemagical formulas.

Mathemagical -- isn't that calculators in a nutshell?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Why? Because the purpose of math education is to teach kids to understand math.

I thought the purpose of it was to teach them to do math.....

No, it's not. It's to understand math. Up to a point, you can do math without understanding math, but after that, you're stuck.

That's not how I learned. I learned how to DO the math. We were taught to add subtract and multiply a certain way on paper. We memorized the multiplication tables. I could do the math long before I "got" the math, and I learned how to do it in my head all by myself.

Yes, and that's why the current math teaching methods are better -- because they emphasize understanding, not just the application of mathemagical formulas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Why? Because the purpose of math education is to teach kids to understand math.

I thought the purpose of it was to teach them to do math.....

No, it's not. It's to understand math. Up to a point, you can do math without understanding math, but after that, you're stuck.

That's not how I learned. I learned how to DO the math. We were taught to add subtract and multiply a certain way on paper. We memorized the multiplication tables. I could do the math long before I "got" the math, and I learned how to do it in my head all by myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.

No, that's not true.

For example, for 8 + 4, here are three things you could do:

1. Memorize 8 + 4 = 12
2: Make 10: 8 + 2 = 10, + 2 = 12.
3: Count on: 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 12.

Yes, but the point is that 8 + 4 = 12 no matter how you do it. Teach them the basic concept and ONE way to do it, then move on. They don't teach them handwriting because they will be using computers in real life. Why teach them myriad ways to do a math problem in their heads when they will be using calculators IRL?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.

Because it is so much easier to be able to do math in your head! Why learn anything when you can look it up on line?

Unfortunately, this is the way of the future with spelling, too, myself included.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.

Because it is so much easier to be able to do math in your head! Why learn anything when you can look it up on line?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.

No, that's not true.

For example, for 8 + 4, here are three things you could do:

1. Memorize 8 + 4 = 12
2: Make 10: 8 + 2 = 10, + 2 = 12.
3: Count on: 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 12.

Exactly. My 2nd grader has learned to use different strategies. I use the "make a 10" strategy, but no one taught that to me. I figured that out when I was much older. There's also the doubles strategy which also starts them off memorizing the 2 times table.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Why? Because the purpose of math education is to teach kids to understand math.

I thought the purpose of it was to teach them to do math.....

No, it's not. It's to understand math. Up to a point, you can do math without understanding math, but after that, you're stuck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.

No, that's not true.

For example, for 8 + 4, here are three things you could do:

1. Memorize 8 + 4 = 12
2: Make 10: 8 + 2 = 10, + 2 = 12.
3: Count on: 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 12.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean they use calculators in school -- I mean why bother teaching them various ways to work it out in their heads when they will have 24/7 access to a calculator? what a waste of time. Just teach them how to do the addition and subtraction and be done with it.

Oh, lord, this is why americans are terrible at math. This is why so many people don't have a good number sense. Kids need a firm foundation in math, play with numbers to understand the different ways to add/subtract. I'm sooooo glad kids are learning this in the early years.

In reality there is only one way to add and subtract.