Decoding Common Core Math

Accuracy in Academia ^ | April 25, 2014 | Malcolm A. Kline

[Academiadotorg]

If the Common Core education reforms introduced by President Obama and supported by big-name Republicans were subject to peer review, they might become a “whatever became of?” question.

“Take, for example, my first-grade son’s Common Core math lesson in basic subtraction,” David G. Bonagura, Jr., writes in an article which appeared in The Education Reporter. “Six- and seven-year-olds do not yet possess the ability to think abstractly; their mathematics instruction, therefore, must employ concrete methodologies, explanations, and examples.”

“But rather than, say, count on a number line or use objects, Common Core’s standards mandate teaching first-graders to ‘decompose’ two-digit numbers in an effort to emphasize the concept of place value. Thus 13 – 4 is warped into 13 – 3 = 10 – 1 = 9. Decomposition is a useful skill for older children, but my first-grade son has no clue what it is about or how to do it. He can, however, memorize the answer to 13 – 4. But Common Core does not advocate that tried-and-true technique.”

The Education Reporter is published by the Eagle Forum, an organization founded by conservative attorney, author and activist Phyllis Schlafly. Bonangura’s article was reprinted by permission from National Review, in which it originally appeared.

Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia.

If you would like to comment on this article, e-mail mal.kline@academia.org.

[Baynative]

I geuss this shows my lack of understanding. “13 – 3 = 10 – 1 = 9” looks right to me.

I cant see how 13-3-1= 10 unless you work backwards and deduct 1 from 3 first then reason that there is now 2 left to deduct from 13. But, then you'd be left with 11. However going the other way it looks like 9 to me.

I still relate to the old vertical columns that have worked since someone figured out numbers.

[Resettozero]

There is a mistake here.

Cannot tell if that is a minus sign or a dot, indicating multiplication. Either way, it's goofy.

[Baynative]

Making change from paper money was a lesson I learned in second grade and from there dimes turned to ten percent and 25 cents turned to quarters which in turn became 1/4 and everything made sense.

That simple basis did me well my entire life and I just completed another year without using Algebra once.

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

“Just my opinion: support of “common core” math should be diagnosed as a psychiatric disorder.”

Best line I’ve ever seen about this mess! I think it’s designed to dumb-down kids and to totally discourage them about doing math. My friend has an MBA in managerial accounting and offered to tutor my 10-year-old granddaughter. My friend couldn’t make sense of it!!!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Why fingers? It is so much better than giving the little darlings little wood cubes that just might get thrown awound the room, <^..^>

I knew one teacher who used jelly beans. I asked why and was told, "a jelly bean is easier to get out of the nose then a dry bean."

[Fresh Wind]

As a math teacher has explained to me, Common Core Standards still do not teach students how to make change from paper money.

That skill is a relic of the buggy whip era. It's the job of the cash register now. /s

[UCANSEE2]

Warped ? Is that a new ‘math’ term ?

Thus 13 – 4 is warped into 13 – 3 = 10 – 1 = 9.

I see (says the child).

We take away 3 from 13, because 13 has a three in the second position. That leaves 10. Next we take away 1 from 10, because 13 has a 1 in the first position. We don’t need the zero, because zero is nothing.

A second method is to add 1+3+4 = 8, then add another 1 because that is the difference between 3 and 4, so

13-4=1+3+4+(4-3)=9

See ? Simple.

[MrB]

Educating the kids is NOT the goal.
Socially indoctrinating them is the goal,
and that’s why the “curriculum” is so sloppy.
They just didn’t care.

[newfreep]

LOL - Post of the Day...and deserves an encore!!!

[Resettozero]

Making change from paper money was a lesson I learned in second grade and from there dimes turned to ten percent and 25 cents turned to quarters which in turn became 1/4 and everything made sense.

My mind worked that way too; don't remember the grade level things like that kicked in.

My math advisor opined that Common Core Standards presume this art will not be necessary because of computer-cash registers that tell the check-out attendant how much change to give the customer. And I regularly watch customers put the change in their pockets without checking first.

[Resettozero]

That skill is a relic of the buggy whip era. It's the job of the cash register now. /s

I was typing Post 30 while you were posting this to me. 8>)

[DManA]

What is more abstract than the concept of place value?

[polymuser]

I can't see how 13-3-1 = 10" You did not include ALL of it: = 10 - 1. Which = 9. Math in America is on life support.

[ridesthemiles]

I was born in 1939. My parents taught all of us kids the alphabet & our ‘numbers’ before we even went to school.

We went to a one room school in rural Wisconsin.

We all got good grades. I was an honor student in high school. I went to night school for accounting classes when I was 29-33.

We learned with ‘flash-cards’ and we learned to memorize doing numbers.

Kids today are being cheated, IMO.

[Catphish]

13-3 does not equal 10-1 as indicated by the equations.

13-3-1 does not equal 10 it equals 9. Ugh!

I also disagree with the author’s premise.

You can teach kids that to subtract 4 from 13 first you take away 3 “things” then you take away 1 “more thing”. It’s an “abstraction” kids can deal with.

I don’t know much about “Common Core”. But you should not only teach kids tables but also teach them how to think.

[Focault's Pendulum]

computer-cash registers that tell the check-out attendant how much change to give the customer. And I regularly watch customers put the change in their pockets without checking first.

A convenience store chain near me has recently changed their registers to deliver the coins into a tray, so the cashier only hands back bills.

People are unaware of the recent changeover, so they forget the coins.

So far I've made about twelve bucks on the deal.

[midnightcat]

sadly, i still use my fingers! math was never my strong point no matter how hard i tried :(

[I want the USA back]

I understood place value without having to decompose anything.

[Maudeen]

It’s all about the massive data base. . . .common core is just a vehicle to get the wheels in motion.

[JimSEA]

I don’t really understand what the hell they’re talking about. I was taught addition and subtraction in much the same way I understand the subject today. I taught my daughter and am teaching my granddaughter the same way I was taught. My father put some marbles on the table and taught by showing the result of adding more marbles and taking away marbles. Absurdly simple and very effective. Division and fractions can be introduced the same way. My teachers used it to introduce each of those subjects. That was some 60+ years ago.