Re: In no way saying I’m smarter then teachers

In no way AM I saying that I’m smarter THAN (lol) teachers

Mjc3194 · 2023-01-30T20:58:18.956Z

But there’s no way in this world someone will make me the believe the way they teach math today is easier then the way it use to be taught. Some of the ways they want these kids to find the answer is mind numbing, literally took two pages to “properly” do five problems. Holy cow bout gave myself a seizure when I hopped back on, to the grammar police I salute you ??? Message was edited by: Mjc3194® Message was edited by: Mjc3194® Message was edited by: Mjc3194®

Math teacher here, mainly at the upper high school levels... and you're correct.

The general idea is that we are teaching students to conceptualize a problem instead of just solving the required process. That, in itself, is a good thing. We need more students who are able to solve a "real life" situation instead of just an algebra problem. That also requires teachers to USE more real life application. Too much effort is wasted on techniques and topics that the vast majority of people will never need beyond graduation.

Unfortunately, we aren't teaching kids the basics and solving generalized situations becomes incredibly difficult. You can't solve many real life problems if you can't add.

I know teachers used to say "you'll never had a calculator with you", but now we seemingly all do. It doesn't, however, mean that you don't need to understand how to use those numbers and equations. Carpenters use the Pythagorean Theorem all the time without calling it that. Engineers use rates of change, slope, etc. constantly. Chefs use measurements, weights, and multiplication constantly.

The "idea" of teaching kids to think beyond the problem is a good thing, but we've set a lot of kids up for failure because their brains aren't wired to tackle problems the way we are teaching.

bretfsu®

Top TigerNet [30036]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 9578

Joined: 2003

As a math teacher, I'll respond.

Jan 30, 2023, 4:53 PM

Here is the problem.

1. The teachers teaching your kids don't understand how to solve problems using this process, much less how to teach it to your kids.

2. The educators who taught the teachers how to teach this process don't know how to teach it to the teachers who will teach your kids.

I never taught arithmetic using this process. But, I saw enough of it, that I do understand how the new method works. It is not the method I would choose to teach kids, but - in my most humble voice ever - I could do a better job than 90% of the teachers are doing today.

Side trip.

The line of scrimmage is the 34 yard line. A punt is made. It is downed at the 27 yard line. How long was the punt?

Lots of ways you can figure it out.

1. It traveled 16 yards to the 50, then 23 more yards to the 27. So, it went 16+23 = 39 yards.

2. 34+27 = 61. It didn't travel those 61 yards of the field so it must have traveled 39 yards.

3. 6 yards to the 40, 10 to 50, 10 to the 40, 10 to the 30, 3 to the 27 = 39 yards.

I could teach a kid how to solve that problem in any of those 3 ways.

But, if I didn't explain it properly you, as a parent might see this work (assume you know very little about football):
1. (50-34) + (50-27) = 39 You might be asking, "What the heck does 50 have to do with anything?
2. 100 - (34+27) = 39. You might be asking, "Where did the 100 come from? Just pulled out of the
air?
3. 6 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 3 = 39 You'd probably just be scratching your head.

All 3 of those methods could be taught using the method you are looking at when you see your kids homework. But, they all have to be taught by someone who not only understands it, but can also explain it.

The problem is, when it comes to math too many adults, teachers and parents, tend to have the attitude, "Just tell me how to get the answer. I don't want to understand it." And, it is exacerbated when the teacher is just memorizing the process and telling the student, "Don't try to understand it, just shut up and do it."

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

In no way AM I saying that I’m smarter THAN (lol) teachers