Math Is the Right Path
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness... Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
In many U.S. classrooms, kids learn very little substantive math content, starting with arithmetic in 1st grade. Kids must know stuff to move forward in math, but they aren't taught enough content. Instead, they are taught Common Core reform math, which is not internationally benchmarked, so students start behind and stay behind, beginning in the 1st grade. Theme: Other nations are out-educating us in math and science.
Educators imagine that students have the same academic ability, which isn't true. Pretending that students are the same is a myth. Students do not have similar intellectual ability, so "gap closing" should not be an educational goal. Some kids are better at math than others. It's not going to change. The K-8 kids who are better at math need advanced content, but instead, they often get enrichment in so-called gifted programs. Also, high-achieving math students are mixed with low-achieving students in the name of equity. "Academic outcomes are not simply a function of money," writes Freddie deBoer. "Throwing money at our educational problems, while noble in intent, hasn't worked." Yet, we continue doing it.
NOTE: The updated content for this page has moved to Math Notes:
Click Here for the latest Math Notes!
Click Musing2 for the latest)
Click Musing
Click: Cogitatus4
Click: Summer2021
Click: Summer2021 Part 2
Click: Back To School
Click Back To School-2
Note: The menu at the top of this page works for these pages:
FirstGrade, Science, Contrarian Math Page, Snaps.
Note: The 2nd-grade Teach Kids Algebra curriculum is summarized on the Contrarian Math Page (See Main Menu, above). LT
In many U.S. classrooms, kids learn very little substantive math content, starting with arithmetic in 1st grade. Kids must know stuff to move forward in math, but they aren't taught enough content. Instead, they are taught Common Core reform math, which is not internationally benchmarked, so students start behind and stay behind, beginning in the 1st grade. Theme: Other nations are out-educating us in math and science.
Educators imagine that students have the same academic ability, which isn't true. Pretending that students are the same is a myth. Students do not have similar intellectual ability, so "gap closing" should not be an educational goal. Some kids are better at math than others. It's not going to change. The K-8 kids who are better at math need advanced content, but instead, they often get enrichment in so-called gifted programs. Also, high-achieving math students are mixed with low-achieving students in the name of equity. "Academic outcomes are not simply a function of money," writes Freddie deBoer. "Throwing money at our educational problems, while noble in intent, hasn't worked." Yet, we continue doing it.
NOTE: The updated content for this page has moved to Math Notes:
Click Here for the latest Math Notes!
Click Musing2 for the latest)
Click Musing
Click: Cogitatus4
Click: Summer2021
Click: Summer2021 Part 2
Click: Back To School
Click Back To School-2
Note: The menu at the top of this page works for these pages:
FirstGrade, Science, Contrarian Math Page, Snaps.
Note: The 2nd-grade Teach Kids Algebra curriculum is summarized on the Contrarian Math Page (See Main Menu, above). LT
Contact ThinkAlgebra
Email LarryT at ThinkAlgebra@cox.net.
3rd graders in Teach Kids Algebra.
LarryT, Founder:
ThinkAlgebra & Teach Kids Algebra
Model Credits: Remi, EmB, and kids in my algebra classes.
EmB came up with the slogan: Math Is the Right Path.
Last Updates: 12-14-2020, 1-1-21, 2-12-21, 4-17-21, 5-11-21, 5-22-21,
6-20-21, 9-1-21, 9-12-21, 10-13-21, 1-22-22
ThinkAlgebra & Teach Kids Algebra
Model Credits: Remi, EmB, and kids in my algebra classes.
EmB came up with the slogan: Math Is the Right Path.
Last Updates: 12-14-2020, 1-1-21, 2-12-21, 4-17-21, 5-11-21, 5-22-21,
6-20-21, 9-1-21, 9-12-21, 10-13-21, 1-22-22
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