ductapejewpirate Says:

Nov 18, 2008 - As a future math teacher (the screen name is old...apologies for its classlessness) this really really irks me. I had heard rumors that they were teaching math like this. I cannot emphasize how much I believe calculators have become a crutch for our society! This is SO irksome! At the third presidential debate it was brought up by the moderators that we spend more per capita per student than any other country yet we're doing worse than a LOT of countries Maybe this should say something??

kayrom1 Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - Everyday Math is garbage. My two sons, who are very good at math, have come home with moronic homework such as "Find three things in your home that weigh about what you think this [picture of a book] weighs." My older son is now in seventh grade, and he came home one day last year, and said, "Hey Mom! I finally learned the right way to do multiplication! His SOCIAL STUDIES teacher taught him the basic algorithm.

SnapeHalfbloodPrince Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - i see a mathematical pattern of decay in education in Holland, where I live. Teachers cannot even count 4*3 without a calculator, and there were even suggestions to teach a new way of maths: 3*3 is an estimate of 10 would be correct... I am glad that I have been properly taught mats and I think it is needed, even with the new techniques like calculators and so on. Why use a calculator when you can compute it yourselve?Also the Dutch languages are changed to be easier every 3 to 5 years, why?

TheBonnieRose Says:

Nov 19, 2008 - Oh My God . . . the "cluster" method is so confusing and seems like an enormous waste fo time. I am shocked and horrified that they are actually teaching that as an introduction to learning multiplication. I can see offering this kind of prob. solution a year AFTER mastery of basic algorythums, perhaps to strengthen logic centers in the brain, but, as a method for basic math . . . NO WAY! What a scam.

silycaon Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - its because with a dumb public, people dont ask questions or think for themself

TonganRock Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - This is outrageous I hope this is not being taught in my state of California..

rugaba Says:

Nov 20, 2008 - I feel her pain, but unfortunately SHE IS DEAD WRONG. Math achievement has fallen significantly with respect to the rest of the world, and the countries who are dominating our kids are using methods similar to the TERC/Cluster. We must get on board with better math methods. Yes, it will be difficult at first, but more beneficial in the long run. She failed to demonstrate how much easier the TERC method is to use once you become proficient. Multi-digit multiplication becomes second nature.

AnimeFanOwns Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - Wow she looks on her paper to much, if i do that on my oral I fail and get a D

sw33tb0y77 Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - Ahaha poor kids are fucked.

wwleslie Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - In countries that perform well on international math tests (mostly in Asia and Europe), they do not teach junk computation methods (like clustering and lattice for multiplication); their texts are more rigorous than anything we have, though. The problem with traditional American math texts is that they didn't teach students how to think (too much drill); the problem with the new texts (like TERC and Everyday Math) is that they don't teach students how to compute. Why can't we have both?

Bellatrix22 Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - I learnt to use the standard algorithm and they taught us USING PLACE VALUES. It was more effiencent, easier to understand and we didn't waste "precious class time" drawing up boxes. I agree with wwleslie... there needs to be a balance with what they're teaching us. I've just finished year 11 Maths and I was disturbed at how many of my classmates haven't learnt long division in primary school. It make polynomial equations really hard for them. We "wasted" class time doing primary school work.

bunnykill100 Says:

Nov 21, 2008 - I loved this! I remember learning all these random methods, and constantly asking "but WHY?! I just want to know how to multiply them together!". I actually did rather poorly in math in elementary school because I didn't understand WHY I needed all of it. For math, you basically just need to know (for middle school): standard multiplication multiplication up to 12 x 12 long division fractions (+, -, /, *) decimals (how to turn them into reg. numbers) This shouldn't be that hard :S Thanks again!

InfiniteAnvil Says:

Nov 22, 2008 - It sounds like Everyday Math has a really good foundation in theory. I wish I'd had those extra zeroes; it explicates the theory while requiring minimum extra work. We learned the TERC method in my university (CS-hosted) Algorithms class as the "Russian method," and most in the class wished we had been taught that, instead of the arbitrary-seeming shortcut we learned in elementary school. Then again, in a class on algorithms, you're getting a lot of theory people and fewer practical people.

DJGoLdEnA Says:

Nov 24, 2008 - i hate this

ftizzzzaw Says:

Nov 24, 2008 - i really suck without a calculator

mrallcock Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - the book you show with the remarks of having no math on certain pages has tables- arent these tables a way of presenting math? does a degree in weather qualify you as an expert in math?

Ramrider247 Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - My students love the lattice method. I hadn't seen it before (I'm not a Maths specialist) so I looked it up. Now I'm perfectly able to use it. I agree on most of the rest of it, though.

ThatOneAwesomeGuy1 Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - at 2:18 my brain goes "WTF man this is ALL screwed up"

xingfenzhen Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - TERC method is actually very similar to mental math techniques taught in china. expect we had to answer them verbally in class and then prove our answers on the blackboard with the traditional method. Also I wish abacus is taught in schools here, since it really teaches to break complex calculations into simpler ones, and do it very quickly...

xingfenzhen Says:

Nov 25, 2008 - I think her point is that those thing should be taught in geography class instead. You learn methods in math class and then apply them in other classes like geography, science etc, rather than combine them

gerstners Says:

Nov 28, 2008 - She is not claiming to be an expert in math.

deprofundis442 Says:

Nov 28, 2008 - Doesn't the government decide on the ciriculum these days though? If that's so, then teachers don't really have a say.

MsMathTeacher Says:

Nov 29, 2008 - As a parent and math teacher I have found Everyday Math to provide a strong program which helps students develop "number sense", meaning they do not simply memorize algorithms, but actually understand why the they work. This is critical for students to use what they know to solve new problems or situations. I feel very strongly that kids need to do a certain amount of basic memorization- multiplication tables, etc. I am often shocked at how much high school students rely on calculators.

EdgeStormcrow Says:

Nov 30, 2008 - im with ya sister.. this chick is right.. im doing maths at uni and i still cant long divide, cos they made us remember a song.. a song.. and i forgot the song and cant long divide anymore lol !

RAWowner333 Says:

Dec 1, 2008 - this is the most retarded thing i've ever heard of. I'm in calc 2 and yeah sure i use a calculator only to figure out 2343*384 to take less time to use the normal algorithm. once again..retarded...