OK, So I was just joking.
You and I do this math in our head because we understand that numbers are abstract.
It’s as if CC math is trying to make them concrete.
Either because they think the teachers are stupid or they think their students are stupid.
Maybe both ?
My first grade teacher was responsible for allowing me the gift of math in my life.
I must have been having problems understanding the concept of addition and subtraction because I remember one day when the classroom was empty she had me stop by her desk. In her hand she had 9 popsicle sticks. She then took two popsicles out of the stack and put them in her drawer. How many popsicles sticks did she now hold in her hands?
I wasn’t too sure on how many popsicle sticks were now in here hands, but I was darn sure that I didn’t want anyone taking any popsicles away from me. After that math was easy.