Why does it have to be so complicated?!?!?
Many parents feel frustrated as they try to help their children with math assignments. This may be because math is taught differently now than in previous years. Students no longer go through a textbook, working page by page (like I remember doing when I was a kid!). They focus more on completing tasks, using mental strategies, and solving problems. Parents sometimes feel lost without a textbook. They hear terms they've never heard before and see their children working equations in new ways. This page is full of math resources to help parents make sense of the "new" approach to teaching math.
What was wrong with the "old" way of teaching math? It worked for me!
There can be confusion when we compare the way WE learned math to the way OUR KIDS are learning it. Sometimes parents comment that "new" ways of teaching are complicated and require more work. In truth, the "new" strategies are designed to help students be able to apply knowledge instead of just memorize procedures. In your adult life, how many times have you been asked to complete a worksheet with math facts? Probably not often. How many times have you needed math to actually solve a problem? The "old" ways were ok, but typically just led to children learning (or struggling with) rote steps. The "new" ways help students better understand the base ten number system and work with numbers more efficiently. Click *HERE* for more information about why students are now experiencing math differently.