tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18436046.post3681324886952191560..comments2024-02-15T11:55:02.998-08:00Comments on Why Homeschool: Math - optional or necessary?Henry Catehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03097237237859928969noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18436046.post-42517649556684267112010-06-20T16:00:36.768-07:002010-06-20T16:00:36.768-07:00We're a new home school family, just getting s...We're a new home school family, just getting started. You've shown one of the primary reasons we've decided to go this route. Not only is math not optional, math is the most important part of education, it helps shape the brain, helps form an understanding of logic and is a necessary foundation to everything else in life. <br /><br />I wouldn't expect everyone, or even my kids, to master calculus, but without some understanding of algebra and geometry it's hard function as an adult. Everything we do, building, cooking, investing, budgeting, traveling, everything involves math and is easier and more enjoyable with an understanding of basic math.<br /><br />Thanks' for pointing out that study, an interesting read.VinceRNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16047788136626113945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18436046.post-53849015927336942462010-06-18T11:53:00.189-07:002010-06-18T11:53:00.189-07:00I was shocked when my MIL, who is a retired 3rd gr...I was shocked when my MIL, who is a retired 3rd grade teacher, had difficulty helping my 7 y.o. with the math in her 3rd grade Singapore book. And it wasn't that she was unfamiliar with the Singapore approach- she was having trouble with the actual arithmetic part. <br /><br />Granted Singapore does run about a grade ahead so it was stuff typically covered in 4th grade. But still, it really wasn't all that hard. I came away thinking, "How can somebody become a teacher if she can't do 4th grade math?"Crimson Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254830856234479999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18436046.post-91224675130861158382010-06-17T14:40:10.559-07:002010-06-17T14:40:10.559-07:00Yes, sad, isn't it? I wouldn't blame it on...Yes, sad, isn't it? I wouldn't blame it on the teachers, though. The way they were taught would probably beat the curiosity out of the best of us.<br /><br />You are so right about math helping to instill logical thought in people. Unfortunately, what we have in school is not math, it's math <i>ed</i>. <br /><br />What a difference. One fosters logic and curiosity, the other kills those things by beating us over the head with standardized tests. Math ed, as practiced in most schools (and as taught in most math ed departments of colleges) is about punishing children for not jumping through the right hoops. <br /><br />Math needs to be freed of "curriculums" and fostered by good books, inspired teachers, meaningful games (like KenKen, Nimm, dominoes, etc.) and not pandering tripe like "Learn multiplication with Barney," or songs, rhymes and other things that are strictly for babies. You can memorize with songs and games, but you can't learn about what you are mindlessly repeating. <br /><br />You have a great blog. I'm sure to visit again. You perform a good service to your readers. Thanks.Professor Homunculushttp://mathmojo.com/chroniclesnoreply@blogger.com