Posted on 01/06/2005 5:38:05 PM PST by Chuckmorse
I was visiting my brother the other day and his 9-year-old son was doing his math homework.
I took a look at the Math problems and realized that they were almost impossible to de-cipher.
My sister in law explained to me that the goal was to learn how to guess.
A few days earlier, I was attending a discussion with other parents whose children attend the school my daughter attends.
The subject of Math came up and they nodded their heads in agreement when someone made the point that the Math homework given to their children was virtually intelligible.
One parent explained that the school had a "theoretical" orientation when it came to Math and that rote learning, as opposed to abstract understanding, was unfashionable.
Arithmetic, the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, is, in and of itself, a way of thinking and organizing.
Numbers themselves are abstract expressions of matter and a means of measuring quantity and time.
By tampering with this most fundamental science, our education system is tampering with our children's ability to think clearly.
No wonder there is such an increase in dyslexia, ADD, and other learning disorders.
How much actual Math is taught in schools today?
What effect does the "new” Math have on the cognitive and intellectual development of our children?
I would be curious to hear feedback on this important issue.
The best types of math textbooks are the ones without pictures and drawings. For some reason today's "educators" seem to think that a child can't learn anything without a colorful picture to illustrate the lesson. There is no way to illustrate mathematics. The illustrations just wind up being confusing and distracting students from what they are supposed to be learning.
And besides, I highly doubt that Isaac Newton learned from a text that was full of colorful pictures.
It might be of interest to those teaching math at home to read a book called "Mathematics for the millions" by Lancelot Hogben. It's a fascinating book about how mathematics was developed. So when a child says "why?" you'll have some ammo. It's a good read even for college grad, because so little attention is paid in school to how mathematics was created.
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"He was totally lost. When he tried to explain to me "how " he was to figure these problems out...I was lost. "
I tried with my kid to explain the concept of addition (with diagrams) to my kid when he was very young. For example: "If you have 2 apples, and then you get 3 more, how many do you have?" Uh, 7? - it didn't work. I finally blew off the idea of him learning the concept and went right to flash cards. I figured he'd pick up the concept on his own anyway. I was right. It worked perfectly.
"The best types of math textbooks are the ones without pictures and drawings..."
Agreed - too bad there are very few left.
Anybody know where i can go to refresh on math? I have become really rusty at algebra, geometry. I would be interested in something that i can buy (book/software). The older i get the more i realize the stuff i enjoy doing will involve a greater understanding of these subjects that i snoozed though in school ;)
My prof in senior math [real variables, and then complex variables] said at the beginning of the first lecture, day one, that in our math education so far, we were robbed. He then spent the year teaching us math as it should be done, and I believe he was right the first day.
Needless to say, I recommend Saxon (link above). You get their homeschool kits, which have answer books. Their web site will help you figure out what level to start at.
And no - I have no affliation with them.
Cool, i checked out the link. I think this is something i really need to do. Math is soooo important. The problem with the school system is they never never tell you how important it will be using real world examples. All they tell you is YOU NEED TO LEARN or else. U need to learn. I said zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ;)
Yea - they're great.
I'm going to have to call the place, I don't see geometry unless it's blended in with the other kits. They will probably be able to tell me where i should start. I know i should also refresh on fractional math and decimal math, then go with the geometry/prealgebra stuff. Thanks alot for pointing this website out. It is really appreciated because good learning material is important.
It's on their FAQs page - they do blend in geometry throughout, although it really kicks off in Algebra 1.
From what you say, I'd recommend starting with the Math 76. If you have no problem with that book, then skip Math 87 and go to the legendary Algebra 1/2 book. If you do have trouble in 76, then do 87 before the Algebra 1/2 book.
If you start at that level, you'll have all of geometry covered.
Second the "Saxon" reccommendation. I got up through Advanced Mathematics and was ready for pre-calc and then calc 1 at 15.
There does come a point, and I think Algebra 2 is it, where a calculator becomes a good tool. By then you know math. Yes, learn to do sine and cosine on paper, but then use a calculator, it's faster.
You are showing your membership in the "Church of the Painful Truth", pastored by the High Priest, Neal Boortz!
Yeah.ha. What are you doing up so late?ha.
Public schools USED TO be pretty good before you could tell teachers to F off and the dress code was designed by Brittany Spears and The Hood. I remember when kids were afraid of teachers...and they never hit anyone. Ahhh. Fear is good.
"Saxon is great"
Amen. I had the pleasure of public schools a few decades ago. It was bad then, and I know it's much worse now. I only wish Saxon could have been around then.
Schaum's Outline Series has some great stuff. It's got everything in it. From the basics of Algebra and Geometry to Fast Fourier Transforms (wow, haven't said that since college). Amazon's got it.
4th grade = long division. Not as much fun as recess.
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