The new method of “teaching” math leaves students ignorant and uneducated

wordpress.com ^ | July 31, 2012 | Dan from Squirrel Hill

[grundle]

I came across this video which compares the traditional methods of teaching multiplication and division to the new methods. The new methods are deliberately dumbed down, the textbooks claim it’s a waste of time for students to try to master math concepts, and use of calculators is heavily encouraged.

The narrator concludes by telling parents that they should ignore these new methods, and instead, use the math textbooks that are currently being used in Singapore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI

[grundle]

This is the complete blog entry, which the writer has OK'd for this particularly short blog.

[mnehring]

This really isn’t ‘new’ at all. I had a math teacher back when I was a kid who taught both this and the traditional way (table memorization, etc). It hits right brain and left brain students doing both. It is a correct way but it isn’t for everyone.

[GeronL]

South Korean kids say the way they are taught math is fun, they are also years ahead of US public schools.

[killermosquito]

They taught my kids the lattice method of multiplication. Just dumb.

[Jonty30]

I hate calculators.

Calculators should not be allowed until college. You should know how to do everything with a pencil and piece of paper and charts.

[goseminoles]

Im doing graduate work. If it wasn’t for excel, id be screwed..

[Thorliveshere]

I was a “C” Average Math student back in high school (25 years ago), and I felt dumb compared to many other students, but today, when I do math out of my head around younger people, they always go for a calculator to check me, and I’m usually right. I KNOW something is wrong with our school system and how they’re teaching it. I also know dumping more and more and more money down the school’s gullet is NOT solving the problem, either!

[Jonty30]

I think you understand my point.

Today’s calculators teach absolutely nothing. You just type in the formula, right out of the textbook, and write down the answer the calculator gives you.

[ETL]

Teaching Math In 1950:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1960:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?

Teaching Math In 1970:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?

Teaching Math In 1980:
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20 Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

Teaching Math In 1990:
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? **Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

Teaching Math In 2005:
Un ranchero vende una carretera de madera para $100. El cuesto de la produccion era $80. Cuantos tortillas se puede comprar?

http://dagnygromer.wordpress.com/2008/03/16/the-evolution-of-teaching-math-1950s-to-today/

[BobL]

Nice to see this video getting around. EVERY PARENT needs to see it. Sure, if they still want to take advantage of their "free" public schools, so be it. But DO NOT, EVER, EVER, expect them to teach math to your kid in a way that will even come close to preparing him for college. For that you have do what the Asians do in this country and simply ignore what's now called math in the public schools - and enroll them in some type of after-school program where they actually will learn the subject. Remember, Asians do well in this country IN SPITE of the public schools, not because of them. Of course, like many of us, you can also after-school the kids at home - but for heaven's sake, don't use their curriculum. Same for reading. Yes, your kids will eventually learn how to read if you leave it up to the schools. And that magic day will come around age 9 or 10, once they finish their last year of "Sight Words"!!! This word "улица" means "street" in Russian. You must look real hard at that word and memorize its shape - or maybe character string - but you ARE NOT ALLOWED to sound it out, since we don't teach that skill until Third Grade (when they actually start to read). Try learning reading that way (i.e., memorizing shapes) and don't forget the different fonts and capitalization that we also have. Of course some of us parents know that a normal kid can learn to read before age 4, and we make a point of personally teaching them that skill, at that age - since it assures that they will never have a so-called "reading problem" when they get older. So yes, little Johnny will learn to read, even without your help - but will be ALWAYS be a very slow reader if you leave the public schools to teach him. So, again, get some after-school help, or better yet, get them reading fluently (which is not hard) before they ever step foot into that facility.

[BobL]

(let me try this post again, it seems the Russian characters threw it off)

Nice to see this video getting around. EVERY PARENT needs to see it. Sure, if they still want to take advantage of their "free" public schools, so be it.

But DO NOT, EVER, EVER, expect them to teach math to your kid in a way that will even come close to preparing him for college. For that you have do what the Asians do in this country and simply ignore what's now called math in the public schools - and enroll them in some type of after-school program where they actually will learn the subject. Remember, Asians do well in this country IN SPITE of the public schools, not because of them. Of course, like many of us, you can also after-school the kids at home - but for heaven's sake, don't use their curriculum.

Same for reading. Yes, your kids will eventually learn how to read if you leave it up to the schools. And that magic day will come around age 9 or 10, once they finish their last year of "Sight Words"!!! This word "улица" means "street" in Russian. You must look real hard at that word and memorize its shape - or maybe character string - but you ARE NOT ALLOWED to sound it out, since we don't teach that skill until Third Grade (when they actually start to read). Try learning reading that way (i.e., memorizing shapes) and don't forget the different fonts and capitalization that we also have.

Of course some of us parents know that a normal kid can learn to read before age 4, and we make a point of personally teaching them that skill, at that age - since it assures that they will never have a so-called "reading problem" when they get older. So yes, little Johnny will learn to read, even without your help - but will be ALWAYS be a very slow reader if you leave the public schools to teach him.

So, again, get some after-school help, or better yet, get them reading fluently (which is not hard) before they ever step foot into that facility.

[BobL]

One other suggest. Look up “Everyday Math Sucks” in Google, to get an idea what’s out there and just how bad it is.

[katykelly]

Get the slide rules back out. That will change math learning overnight.