Being a survivor years ago of some fairly high math in a top university and engineering program I have watched and been interested in what schools at all levels teach as to ‘math’. It doesn’t surprise me that much of what was ‘higher math’ then is/can be taken as ordinary useful ‘math’ today. However. I sometimes think that what is being taught today is just ‘programed manipulation’, a la calculator, as opposed to ‘ self logical’ construction. I have a granddaughter going for a business degree who is taking special calculus instruction. I checked the web as to college, regular and others, and found that indeed calculus was being required for a business degree. After some thought I recollected that my courses in calculus did have ‘dollar’ problems,so it is just a matter of changing times and perspectives .
Homeschooled?
That is the other part of the problem. The third graders do NOT conceptually understand Algebra. Why oh why do they think kids that age should be doing Algebra? There are layers of foundational math that need to be solidly in place before they launch into more theoretical math.
(Don’t get me started!).
math teacher, Middle School
My grand daughter is a third grader here in NC and she is being introduced to elementary algebra.
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I hope you don’t think that is a good idea.