Why is math taught differently today
than it was in the past?
Embedded Files
Dr. Raj Shah explains why math instruction is different today in the video above.
Below, watch author and math education and leadership professor, Mike Flynn present: What Happened to Math Class? Understanding Why Math Looks Different Today and How to Help Your Child.
Listen to expert Pam Harris, a math teacher educator and K-12 mathematics teaching specialist, explain "new math" to parents in these podcasts:
How do children build deep understanding
How do children build deep understanding
of math concepts?
of math concepts?
Watch Graham Fletcher's short progression videos to see how children
make sense of mathematics and build deep understanding of concepts. Then look at the visual models used across the grades to help make math visual.
models_across_the_grades_20141119_114102_17.pdfHow can I encourage my child to love math
even if I don't particularly love it myself?
Dr. Raj Shah provides a PDF Ultimate Guide for creating a culture at home that allows your children to explore their own math questions, make mistakes without being judged, and solve challenging problems, which is the ideal space for them to develop a positive math disposition and mathematical thinking skills.
Ultimate-Guide-to-Getting-YOUR-Child-to-LOVE-Math.pdf12-Steps-to-unlock-your-students-math-achievement.pdfJo Boaler, author of Mathematical Mindsets, CEO of youcubed.org, and Professor at Stanford University, explains 12 steps for working with your child on math and making math fun.
How can I help my child at home with today's math?
The National PTA has suggestions for parents in the handout below. Spanish PDF
familyguide-math.pdf
What can I do to support my child at home when they are solving a math problem and make a mistake
or get stuck?
HelpingatHome-LearningfromMistakes.pdfTalkMovesforParentsandTutorsTeachingatHomeHelpTips-1.pdfHelpingatHome-AskingQuestions.pdfWhy is it a good idea to learn multiple strategies? Why not have students only memorize basic facts
and algorithms the way we did?
"As students develop their ability to recall basic facts, it makes good sense to address both mastery of the skill (quick recall of facts) and understanding of the concept (the properties of the operation and the relationships between facts). Bridges teaches basic facts by first having students explore the operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) in the context of story problems or situations, which ensures students understand what it means to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Students then learn strategies for solving basic problems; these strategies illustrate properties of the operation and can be used for mental math with larger numbers (as well as to help recall facts when needed). Finally, students practice the facts until they can recall them from memory. Bridges teaches students to compute with larger numbers by first establishing conceptual understanding of the operation, then using visual models to learn different ways of calculating, and finally helping them become proficient with efficient algorithms. When computing with larger numbers, students are frequently encouraged to make an estimate first. Estimation promotes number sense, helps students evaluate whether their final answers are reasonable, and encourages them to develop mental math skills that are useful in so many real-world situations."
Why is it important for students to show their work and explain their thinking?
"Asking students to show their work provides more information for teachers and improves student learning: when students explain how they solved a problem, they come to understand the mathematical concepts more deeply. Showing their work also provides detailed evidence that teachers can use to see what students know and where their misconceptions lie. This evidence is essential: it allows teachers to adjust the way they teach to meet students’ needs, and to document student learning over time, which helps them communicate with families about students’ progress. For similar reasons, state tests often require students to explain how they solved a problem. Students are better prepared for such test items when they explain their solutions on a regular basis."
Page updated
Report abuse