First Grade Math: Unconventional Solutions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the teaching methods used in first-grade mathematics, particularly the requirement for students to demonstrate problem-solving in specific ways, such as using drawings, rather than simply providing correct answers. Participants express concerns about the implications of these methods on mathematical understanding and education in the U.S.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their daughter's correct answer to 4 + 5 as demonstrating the commutativity of addition, which they believe is fundamental to arithmetic.
  • Another participant questions the validity of marking the child wrong for not using specific drawing methods, suggesting it reflects poorly on the teaching philosophy.
  • Some participants express frustration with the requirement to use different symbols or methods, questioning how this constitutes different methods of solving the problem.
  • A reference is made to "Lockhart's Lament," indicating a broader critique of current math education practices.
  • One participant suggests that the teacher may not fully understand the mathematical principles involved, such as the commutative property of addition.
  • Another participant labels the teaching method as "Everyday Math," criticizing it as ineffective and disconnected from traditional mathematical understanding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express disagreement regarding the teaching methods and their effectiveness, with no consensus on the appropriateness of the requirements for demonstrating problem-solving in first-grade math.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential limitations in the teaching methods, including a lack of awareness of fundamental mathematical concepts among educators and the reliance on specific symbolic representations that may not align with traditional arithmetic understanding.

TheOldHag
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I think I just had a confrontation with new math. My daughter was asked to show two ways of solving the problem 4 + 5. Naturally, she put

4 + 5 = 9
5 + 4 = 9

To me, this demonstrates commutativity of addition, which is fundamental to arithmetic. Beside that, she is at the point where adding such small number is automatic.

Well, she got the question wrong because she didn't draw circles in squares in one instance and sticks in another instance.

Is this why America lags behind the rest of the world mathematically? I've always thought of myself as a liberal. Is this liberalism gone off a cliff?
 
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TheOldHag said:
I think I just had a confrontation with new math. My daughter was asked to show two ways of solving the problem 4 + 5. Naturally, she put

4 + 5 = 9
5 + 4 = 9

To me, this demonstrates commutativity of addition, which is fundamental to arithmetic. Beside that, she is at the point where adding such small number is automatic.

Well, she got the question wrong because she didn't draw circles in squares in one instance and sticks in another instance.

Is this why America lags behind the rest of the world mathematically? I've always thought of myself as a liberal. Is this liberalism gone off a cliff?

Thats ludicrous are you seriously telling me that they marked her wrong for answering that way? Did you contact the teacher ?
 
I suggested to my wife it may be a good idea to mention it. But I think this is part of some wider philosophy on how to teach mathematics that is probably not informed by real mathematicians.
 
Stupid, how is drawing two different sets of symbols two different methods?
 
In these instances, I am always reminded of "Lockhart's Lament"

It is somewhat long, but very well worth the read.

Incidentally, I was also reminded of this in the "Should we teach elementary math" thread, which was somewhat abruptly closed before I was able to post it.

Edit For Clarity:
I think that your child's math teacher is probably following some very basic manual. The teacher may not even be aware (or remember) that the integers form a ring, and so are commutative. etc, etc.

I find it very sad.
 
Last edited:
I just found that the proper term for this sort of math is Everyday Math. Great way to catch up with the rest of the word - teach math as a series of disjoint circle and block games. What a joke.
 
TheOldHag said:
Well, she got the question wrong because she didn't draw circles in squares in one instance and sticks in another instance.

LOL

Hahaha. That's a good one.
 
I've bookmarked "Lockhart's Lament". Looks like a good read.
 

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