Helping child with homework may not be the answer needed

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis ^ | October 28, 2003 | Dr. Yvonne Fournier

[yevgenie]

Good for you! Children should learn that math is not really that complicated. Algebra is simply an extension of the problems we saw in kindergarden. ? + 5 = 7 ... what is ?
Please note, however, that children (and adults) tend to come in 3 varieties: algebraic, geometric, and (rarely) both.
Algebraic-minded people "get" algebra with its variables and equations. Geometric-minded folk similarly understand geometry, space, and lines. These two groups tend to have difficulty with the other thought processes. There are a few people who are fortunate to be good at both and who can switch between the modes.

[Always Right]

Please, you are reading things are not written! I have never said all parents cram things down childrens throats!

No, but you clearly state you think some do, and I never said all. Here's what you said: "you then decide in your ultimate Know it all wisdom to cram your way or the highway down their throats to make a point, you are going to just do more harm than good." To me, it does not appear you are too high on parents abilities to teach.

I have stated that few people are good teachers, and I do believe that, I have not in the least limited that assertion to only parents.

And thats where I disagree. Anybody that cares and takes the time can be a good teacher. A licence to teach and being armed with politically correct teaching methods do not neccesarily create a good teacher.

You are creating things in your own mind that are not said, are not implied and are not written. Your precreated bias that all teachers are bad has caused you to frankly read something that isn't being said or typed.

And where exactly did I say "all teachers are bad"? I just question teachers abilities the same way you question parents abilities. You give the benefit of the doubt to the teacher and their methods, I give the benefit of the doubt to parents. I happen to think that methods of teaching, particularly in math, have been dumb down so much that neither teacher or student really understand math. Certainly we both have our biases from our experience.

NO one has questions that you love and care about your children, I don't know what field that is coming out of.

That just comes from my belief that caring is the most important part of being a teacher, not that anyone questioned that.

No one here said you "can't" teach your daughter... you really do need to switch to decaff, none of that has ever been implied by me here, at least not by me.

My caffine intake is just fine, thank you for your concern. But the premise of this article is that parents should NOT teach. Specifically, the author states, "Unfortunately, this can lead parents to cross the line of parenting into teaching." That is an absurd statement writen by some elitist teaching professional who has been exposed to way too much psychobabble.

If you are working on the premise that all teachers are not out to teach, there is nothing anyone can say that is going to make a damn bit of difference to you.

Again I have never said that.

If your goal is simply to play ego chicken with a teacher using your child as a pawn in the middle then hey, more power to you.

Now you are getting more offensive than I care to even respond. I guess now you are questioning my love for my daughter....

[4mycountry]

ROTFL! OMG, it's a new Gen of Viking Kittens! XD

Dubya, come take a gander at this grapic. I think you'll like it. :)

[NeoCaveman]

I think you'll like it. :)

I love it.

[4mycountry]

Man, that was fast!!!

[4mycountry]

WHOOPS! Guess the site doesn't allow direct linking. Wish they'd say something! Sorry!!

[NeoCaveman]

And I was going to ask you were you got all your cool smilies.

[x1stcav]

Thanks to you.

We must always strive for accuracy in spelling.

Actually, Mrs. Vroman (3rd garde teaching assistant in phonics, Downey, Calif. schools ca. 1953) would've been considerablt harsher in her criticism.

[4mycountry]

Do a google search for "click smilies". That's where most of mine come from.

If I need one in a hurry, I'll just google the gif I want (eg, shocked.gif or lol.gif). :)

[4mycountry]

I also get emoticons from here. I found the site while looking for smiles, and it has lots!

[agrace]

Oh of course, parents don't teach their kids ANYTHING. Kids learn how to walk, talk, hug, kiss, roll a ball, build with blocks, share, use eating utensils, suck from a straw, drink from a cup, identify colors, body parts, the alphabet, use the toilet, brush their teeth, comb their hair, tie their shoes, button their clothes, ride a bike, sing, latch a seatbelt, swing, do puzzles, wash their hands, learn appropriate behavior, right from wrong, what is expected of them at home, how to make a bed, take a shower, cross the street, avoid danger, call 911, deal with strangers, clean their rooms, treat others with respect all by themselves before they ever start school.

This article is not only an insult to homeschooling parents, but an insult to ALL parents. And I think this homeschool mom is going to email somebody.

[LexBaird]

All I have ever said is that it is very difficult for a student to take 2 or more disparaging concepts at the same time on the same matter and not get confused. Some kids can, no problem, but most can't.

I believe you are WAY wrong here. The vast majority of children are highly adaptable in problem solving. When you provide them more than one approach to math, for example, then they are equipped with more than one tool for any given problem.

This doesn't mean "my way or the highway". It means my way, or the teacher's way, or your mom's way - whichever works best for the kid.

The problem is that this author IS advocating "my [the teacher's] way or the highway", which you rightly disparage. This method teaches rote, one approach problem solving, plugging data into formulae instead of teaching the underlying concepts.