Common Core lol

[wawa]

Sept 22, 2015 10:26:15 GMT -5 alexis said:

I agree with PPs that a lot of what I see in common core math is how I do arithmetic in my head and giving kids various ways to do something is a good thing.

The main criticism I see of common core is parents complaining that they don't understand it and therefore it must be a stupid or useless way to learn. I seriously side eye them. Deciding something is worthless just because you don't understand it is ignorant.

Also, people keep saying the way we learned math as kids is just fine and we don't need this newfangled math. Except, as a society, we suck at math, so clearly the old method isn't working.

YES!!!! 
that drives me nuts.  People who will in one breath say "oh, I'm terrible at math." and in the next breath be all, "what's wrong with the old way?!?!" 
if THE OLD WAY WORKS THEN WHY ARE YOU SO BAD AT IT??? 

[taratru]

One more time, Common Core is a set of standards, not a curriculum. Sorry. It's making me a little nuts.

I like the idea of grouping to do arithmetic. DD2, in 6th grade, has been doing that since 1st grade, so it's not like this is new stuff. I also like that there are multiple ways to get to answers. That used to frustrate me as a student...does it matter that my method looked different as long as I got to the right answer? Geez.

[redwino]

I find a lot of the math instruction now days overly complicated but I think it's because math wasn't difficult for me. I think I do a lot of what they're teaching automatically so to see it written out seems cumbersome. I think it works for a lot of kids but i do worry about them being able to do math quickly when theyre older. I assume the strategies phased out by middleschool.

I wasn't taught math through memorization. I distinctly remember learning multiplication by showing that 5+5+5+5 is the same as 5×4 and working with 10s blocks so I wonder if I was instructed in many of the "new math" methods that were called something else back then.

[IIOY]

Sept 22, 2015 9:49:25 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

i would greatly appreciate it if you didn't badmouth the cirriculum to your children as that undermines what we are doing in class."
.

I was just complaining about this elsewhere because my FB feed has a big post this morning of people talking about how awful fourth grade math is and all the tears and my kid refuses to do his homework and OMG I don't even know how to do this and why do we have to!! etc., etc..

I guaran-damn-tee you those people are passing their personal feelings along to their kids and exacerbating the problem.

[jeaniebueller]

Sept 22, 2015 9:42:43 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I'm new to Common Core math (my oldest is in first grade), but I kind of love it. I was never great at math -- I did well in math classes, but it was because I was good at memorizing. I never really understood the concepts all that well. So I love that my kids will learn to actually understand the reasoning behind it.

The number line example above confuses me though. Hopefully my kid understands that without my help when they get there in class ;-)

How do they learn common core in 1st grade? I have a 1st grader and so far, they are doing a lot of simple addition and I don't think they are doing CC. But I guess I don't know.

[savan]

DS has been doing common core math for a couple of years now and it hasn't been an issue at all. I may not immediately recognize what the question is asking but DS knows what to do because they are taught that way in class. I do wish there were less word problems. DS was a slow to learn reader and word problems make things more difficult for him.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Sept 22, 2015 10:45:13 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Sept 22, 2015 9:42:43 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I'm new to Common Core math (my oldest is in first grade), but I kind of love it. I was never great at math -- I did well in math classes, but it was because I was good at memorizing. I never really understood the concepts all that well. So I love that my kids will learn to actually understand the reasoning behind it.

The number line example above confuses me though. Hopefully my kid understands that without my help when they get there in class ;-)

How do they learn common core in 1st grade? I have a 1st grader and so far, they are doing a lot of simple addition and I don't think they are doing CC. But I guess I don't know.

It's, like, math for English majors.

From the very beginning of the year, their math has been like this:
(1) Read a word problem such as, "Jane found 3 crayons on the table. She found 4 more on the floor. How many crayons did Jane find in all?" (or have it read to them)
(2) Draw a picture. Ex: xxx 0000
(3) Write the equation. 3+4=7
(4) Explain how you got the answer: "I started with 3 and counted on 4 more."

It was hard for DD1 at first because the teacher didn't do a great job at explaining the process, but now she get it, and (hopefully) she'll understand math concepts more easily because of the method!

[savan]

Sept 22, 2015 10:45:13 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

Sept 22, 2015 9:42:43 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

I'm new to Common Core math (my oldest is in first grade), but I kind of love it. I was never great at math -- I did well in math classes, but it was because I was good at memorizing. I never really understood the concepts all that well. So I love that my kids will learn to actually understand the reasoning behind it.

The number line example above confuses me though. Hopefully my kid understands that without my help when they get there in class ;-)

How do they learn common core in 1st grade? I have a 1st grader and so far, they are doing a lot of simple addition and I don't think they are doing CC. But I guess I don't know.

My first grade is doing a lot of practice writing number sentences.  Like there is a picture of 5 red bell peppers and 3 red bell peppers and they want them to write it as an addition number sentence:  5 + 3 = 8.

[One Girl In All The World]

Sept 22, 2015 11:01:24 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

Sept 22, 2015 10:45:13 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

How do they learn common core in 1st grade? I have a 1st grader and so far, they are doing a lot of simple addition and I don't think they are doing CC. But I guess I don't know.

It's, like, math for English majors.

From the very beginning of the year, their math has been like this:
(1) Read a word problem such as, "Jane found 3 crayons on the table. She found 4 more on the floor. How many crayons did Jane find in all?" (or have it read to them)
(2) Draw a picture. Ex: xxx 0000
(3) Write the equation. 3+4=7
(4) Explain how you got the answer: "I started with 3 and counted on 4 more."

It was hard for DD1 at first because the teacher didn't do a great job at explaining the process, but now she get it, and (hopefully) she'll understand math concepts more easily because of the method!

My son is in first grade, and I think this is how his teacher wants him to be doing the homework. From what I gather, this is how they are doing stuff in class. the annoyance I have is that the worksheets they are using for homework aren't from the same resource as they are using for classwork, so the assignments that he brings home aren't always set up to do all that extra crap. 

[DarcyLongfellow]

Sept 22, 2015 11:09:01 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

Sept 22, 2015 11:01:24 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

It's, like, math for English majors.

From the very beginning of the year, their math has been like this:
(1) Read a word problem such as, "Jane found 3 crayons on the table. She found 4 more on the floor. How many crayons did Jane find in all?" (or have it read to them)
(2) Draw a picture. Ex: xxx 0000
(3) Write the equation. 3+4=7
(4) Explain how you got the answer: "I started with 3 and counted on 4 more."

It was hard for DD1 at first because the teacher didn't do a great job at explaining the process, but now she get it, and (hopefully) she'll understand math concepts more easily because of the method!

My son is in first grade, and I think this is how his teacher wants him to be doing the homework. From what I gather, this is how they are doing stuff in class. the annoyance I have is that the worksheets they are using for homework aren't from the same resource as they are using for classwork, so the assignments that he brings home aren't always set up to do all that extra crap. 

That would annoy me. What's the point of doing homework that isn't reinforcing the classwork?

[One Girl In All The World]

Sept 22, 2015 11:11:11 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

Sept 22, 2015 11:09:01 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

My son is in first grade, and I think this is how his teacher wants him to be doing the homework. From what I gather, this is how they are doing stuff in class. the annoyance I have is that the worksheets they are using for homework aren't from the same resource as they are using for classwork, so the assignments that he brings home aren't always set up to do all that extra crap. 

That would annoy me. What's the point of doing homework that isn't reinforcing the classwork?

Yeah it's something I'm keeping an eye on. He's applying the same skills when he's figuring the problems out, so I'm not too concerned at this point. But it concerned me when she mentioned that at BTS night.

Also, can someone please tell me how much that check is written for in the third pic in the OP? I'm just as new math stupid as I was with old math, apparently.

[IIOY]

Sept 22, 2015 11:09:01 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

Sept 22, 2015 11:01:24 GMT -5 DarcyLongfellow said:

It's, like, math for English majors.

From the very beginning of the year, their math has been like this:
(1) Read a word problem such as, "Jane found 3 crayons on the table. She found 4 more on the floor. How many crayons did Jane find in all?" (or have it read to them)
(2) Draw a picture. Ex: xxx 0000
(3) Write the equation. 3+4=7
(4) Explain how you got the answer: "I started with 3 and counted on 4 more."

It was hard for DD1 at first because the teacher didn't do a great job at explaining the process, but now she get it, and (hopefully) she'll understand math concepts more easily because of the method!

My son is in first grade, and I think this is how his teacher wants him to be doing the homework. From what I gather, this is how they are doing stuff in class. the annoyance I have is that the worksheets they are using for homework aren't from the same resource as they are using for classwork, so the assignments that he brings home aren't always set up to do all that extra crap. 

A couple years ago, I went on a huge rant here about the shitty homework that was being sent home.  Basically the standardized materials were poorly written and frequently vague.  "Todd has 7 apples, Francesca has a cat, and Jamie has appendicitis.  Explain."

Then I'd spend an hour googling the CC number listed in the corner of the homework to try to figure out what on earth was being asked.

Our school put all of the textbooks online for us, so now we can look these things up, but H and I had one epic argument over a first grade math problem that I will never forget.

[litebright]

I have been getting FB giggles, though, from another friend with a second grader has been posting her DD's answers to math homework that asks her to explain her work.

They include gems such as, "8+7=15 becaus it jist does". 

[Dumbledork]

I'm terrible at math. Like remedial bad. I had a teacher take pity on me IN COLLEGE and break it down common core style and it was like putting glasses on for the first time. It all started to suddenly come so much easier and make sense!

We practiced it more in depth in edu theory and I love it. I love it so hard. I am the one the GOP talks about, because I would marry common core if I could.

[nursecramer]

Sept 22, 2015 11:23:40 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Sept 22, 2015 11:09:01 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

My son is in first grade, and I think this is how his teacher wants him to be doing the homework. From what I gather, this is how they are doing stuff in class. the annoyance I have is that the worksheets they are using for homework aren't from the same resource as they are using for classwork, so the assignments that he brings home aren't always set up to do all that extra crap. 

A couple years ago, I went on a huge rant here about the shitty homework that was being sent home.  Basically the standardized materials were poorly written and frequently vague.  "Todd has 7 apples, Francesca has a cat, and Jamie has appendicitis.  Explain."

Then I'd spend an hour googling the CC number listed in the corner of the homework to try to figure out what on earth was being asked.

Our school put all of the textbooks online for us, so now we can look these things up, but H and I had one epic argument over a first grade math problem that I will never forget.

We had a frustrating one the other day, not math related. He was supposed to circle the pictures that began with a hard c sound. Two of the illustrations were a cowboy hat and a toque/chef's hat. Eventually we decided that the modifier for hat DID count as part of the name, so we circled the former but not the latter. Which was exactly wrong. The pictures were a "hat" (no circle) and a "cook's hat" (circled). Oops.

[IIOY]

Sept 22, 2015 11:25:46 GMT -5 litebright said:

I have been getting FB giggles, though, from another friend with a second grader has been posting her DD's answers to math homework that asks her to explain her work.

They include gems such as, "8+7=15 becaus it jist does". 

DD once answered a graph problem with something along the lines of, "Tommy read more two more books than Jenny because you can see that if you just look."  I didn't make her change her answer, LOL.

[epphd]

I need to read the replies but basically my take is this: my kid is a "blank slate" right now. If the way he learns results in him having better numeracy or an intuitive sense of numbers - fine. It will be harder for me because it will require my "unlearning" the manipulations I learned to do math, and learn a new way of thinking about it. That doesn't mean its inherently wrong. I will absolutely give it a shot since the "old way" of teaching math resulted in a generation that "hates math" or "was never any good" at it. So why would we be so attached to it?

[open24hours]

Sept 22, 2015 11:25:46 GMT -5 litebright said:

I have been getting FB giggles, though, from another friend with a second grader has been posting her DD's answers to math homework that asks her to explain her work.

They include gems such as, "8+7=15 becaus it jist does". 

I kind of hate how people don't understand the broader implications of a simple problem. Sure 8+7 is a simple math fact that many people have memorized. But what about 328+57? Knowing that you can take 2 from the 7 and give it to the 8 means that you can now add 330+55 in your head, which for most people is probably easier.
You can't start out teaching double, triple, etc digit addition first, so you start out with the basics, the problems that seem like basic math facts first. You are teaching kids to manipulate numbers so that they can solve more complex problems later.

[truckentruck]

The thing that these parents overlook is that eventually the simple algorithm is taught. It's not like new math is trying to do away with the time-tested quick way for getting a result. The whole point of this approach is trying to build computational fluency and an understanding of what you are actually doing when you write a math equation. The algorithm just comes a little bit later, when everyone hopefully has practiced with the concepts to understand what the algorithm is actually doing.

There are kids under the old system who will see the problem 10,000-600 and go about lining the numbers up on top of each other in the traditional "algorithm" and borrow 1s over and over and over again. That is a huge waste of time, and it shows that you don't have a great understanding of numbers if you do that instead of mentally working with 100s. What this new approach aims to do is help people grasp the underlying concepts better.

[SallyJ]

I think of it this way...I naturally have a very strong number sense. I 'see' math for lack of a better explanation. For me, I've always done math the way they are teaching it now because I just understood numbers. Rote memorization was easy for me because I understood the why.

However, most people don't have an innate number sense. Common Core and the associated curriculum helps to actually teach number sense to everyone. IMO, for my two kids, one like me with an innate number sense and one who doesn't have a strong number sense and also isn't good at rote memorization, it is perfect. Both of my children are good at math because they are learning number sense and the why.

[WOT?*]

I would like to add that Mike from Painesville obviously doesn't get the new standards because he's using different values as his line plots. It looks like base 8 and base 10 line plots? 8 units vs 10 units? (plus four placeholders so does that tack on an extra four places for ONE MEELION DOLLARS?)

Off to the middle school.  Thankfully not to math class.

[saz]

You guys, I have a confession. Common core math is the way my mind works. Especially the "How to get 10 from 8+5" type of question. I think common core math really would have helped me as a kid.

[itsme]

Sept 22, 2015 11:53:40 GMT -5 open24hours said:

Sept 22, 2015 11:25:46 GMT -5 litebright said:

I have been getting FB giggles, though, from another friend with a second grader has been posting her DD's answers to math homework that asks her to explain her work.

They include gems such as, "8+7=15 becaus it jist does". 

I kind of hate how people don't understand the broader implications of a simple problem. Sure 8+7 is a simple math fact that many people have memorized. But what about 328+57? Knowing that you can take 2 from the 7 and give it to the 8 means that you can now add 330+55 in your head, which for most people is probably easier.
You can't start out teaching double, triple, etc digit addition first, so you start out with the basics, the problems that seem like basic math facts first. You are teaching kids to manipulate numbers so that they can solve more complex problems later.

You just shed some light on this concept for me and made me realize I use this way of doing math in my head in some instances. 

[decemberwedding07]

Sept 22, 2015 9:13:39 GMT -5 ttt said:

Sept 22, 2015 9:11:44 GMT -5 kme said:

I hate Common Core but I would love to have my opinion change.

I cannot logically explain the math in the first picture. How does someone know to 5-2 + 3?

I don't get it either. If you take 2 from 5, then it's not 5 anymore. 

I get what they're saying. They want you to "make ten" to make adding easier. It's just a tactic to make doing math in your head easier. To me, the funny thing about common core math is that the whole point seems to be doing math in your head, but all math tests require you to show your work, just to make it harder for people to cheat. So, whatever simplification you gain, you lose by having to show your work. At least, that's how I see it. That's why it ends up looking more complicated than "old math."

[IIOY]

Sept 22, 2015 12:52:45 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Sept 22, 2015 9:13:39 GMT -5 ttt said:

I don't get it either. If you take 2 from 5, then it's not 5 anymore. 

I get what they're saying. They want you to "make ten" to make adding easier. It's just a tactic to make doing math in your head easier.

I will say from the perspective of fourth grade math that I do think CC is laying on the "mental math" a bit too heavily at times. The math that is now being taught actually aligns nicely with how I've always done math in my head but we've had moments where the problems have gotten almost comically complex and I've told DD to just jot down her work because IRL people sometimes use scratch paper for math and that's perfectly fine. She gets the concept so I'm not going to sweat her putting pencil to paper for a five-part question.

[IIOY]

[lissaholly]

I,so far, dig CC because it makes sense, as others have said. It is how I do math in my head. My hold on math was tentative. I could get the right answer but I had no idea why. If I made a mistake, well then, I had no idea how to fix it. I think CC can only help teachers teach kids too. It opened up the language they can use to explain. I was fortunate to have some smart friends in school that got me through math ( and likewise- I got them through English;) but man, they were crippled in explaining a a concept if I didn't get it they traditional way. I imagine it was hard for some teachers the traditional way, too.

[SallyJ]

Sept 22, 2015 12:52:45 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

Sept 22, 2015 9:13:39 GMT -5 ttt said:

I don't get it either. If you take 2 from 5, then it's not 5 anymore. 

I get what they're saying. They want you to "make ten" to make adding easier. It's just a tactic to make doing math in your head easier. To me, the funny thing about common core math is that the whole point seems to be doing math in your head, but all math tests require you to show your work, just to make it harder for people to cheat. So, whatever simplification you gain, you lose by having to show your work. At least, that's how I see it. That's why it ends up looking more complicated than "old math."

I don't think it's just a 'prevent cheating' thing.  Showing work is important to get people to really think through how they are doing math and the why of it all.  It reinforces the concepts.  I think it also reinforces the concept of 'support your opinion' and critical thinking in other subjects.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

As a person with a legitimate learning disability in Math, Common Core is just cruel. I'm not saying that as a joke, I am dreading when S has to go to school and comes home with math homework, there is no way in hell I'm going to be able to help her. As stupid as it sounds I get anxious thinking about it, and she's only 2.5.

[laurenpetro]

can i just say how much i love the new posters in this thread?