Follow-up to story time! With bonus story! So, Mini-Winters is now 10. She was in fourth grade last year, and she had some math homework that she needed help with. I looked at it and sent in Mr. Winters, because I didn’t understand a damn thing. But I didn’t just wander away. I’m a curious person; I like to master new skills. I sat on the couch with them and watched him take her through the problem – and didn’t get it. I asked him to explain it two more times that night. I still have no fucking idea what he was doing.
Show Story Time! Post ListCatherine Winters
Author, Trekkie, Troublemaker.
You would probably enjoy “New Math” by Tom Lehrer.
Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKGV2cTgqA
However, while I remember being taught all of the methods mentioned in the song, I looked at today’s “new math” and found myself bemused by the methods they’re using to teach math these days. It just doesn’t make sense to me, but I suppose it does work, right?
Still, I do wonder how this kind of math technique changes the logical processes of the kids’ minds.