Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth

No, reasoning is something inherit in people. You don't need to learn it.

Not sure if I agree with this. At school, I was taught the standard algorithm but because I found reasoning to be much faster, I began to only use that algorithm on tests. If I am asked in public a certain math question, I use reasoning to come to a very close approximate answer rather than trying to do double digit division/multiplication in my head. Memory can be learned at home, but reasoning is something much more important and complex which should have a place in schools.

Noted.

10:13
If you look at the paragraph under the one she's talking about it actually says that students should learn proper algarythms for the purpose of standardized testing

nerd alert

I am a Chemistry teacher at the High School level. I am appalled by Everyday Math. My students cannot logically solve algebraic problems. They want a triangle. You show me a triangle method to use for thermodynamic problems. Now that I have a 5th grader in Everyday Math, I know why. I had to teach her multiplication and I am currently teaching her division. We will have students incapable of Science and Math based careers. I cannot imagine the nightmare we are in for.

No it isn't. It would be:

26x31=
(1x6 + 1 x 20) + (30x20+30x6) =
26+600+180=
806.

See how much shorter and faster and better her way is?

You shouldnät use the other methods mate. They confuse you. Math is only made possible if you practise it all the time. If you practise two different methods both methods will lack perfection.

It's the dumbing down of the population. They should only know enough ;) Seems most of the population are getting quite pissed at this, be that in private or government schools. But the question is how to change anything if our representatives don't represent us - anywhere.


Kind regards from Sweden.

I am a Mechanical Engineer graduate from college of Aerospace/.Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona. Memory can be taught at home, reasoning is better taught at school.