ruiruivo83 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The second method should be teached much more than it is, it is the best fot math by head. the third is not very usefull.

ecj314 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

My math teacher taught us all of these methods. Obviosuly, the algorithms were stressed because high schools will use them. It angers me when people say that the algorithms "don't teach" placement and other lessons. Math wasn't created to be self-explanatory. Don't we have teachers who explain placement and the like? Our methods of calculation can't do that work-they are created for the purpose of lessening the work needed to arrive at an answer.

joeytwomugs (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I got to around 5 minutes and got too annoyed. Just because she is too stupid to be use all the methods doesn't mean they should be unnaceptable. Who cares if she got confused with some methods, she can use her single way of working. And that sneering remark at 4:53 'when problems get cumbersome, we can just reach for a calculator'. Cluster problems may be easier for quick mental math if you don't have a pen and paper handy. I vary my method depending on the sum and situation. Bloody Math Nazi

RAWowner333 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

this is the most retarded thing i've ever heard of. I'm in calc 2 and yeah sure i use a calculator only to figure out 2343*384 to take less time to use the normal algorithm. once again..retarded...

EdgeStormcrow (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

im with ya sister.. this chick is right.. im doing maths at uni and i still cant long divide, cos they made us remember a song.. a song.. and i forgot the song and cant long divide anymore lol !

MsMathTeacher (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

As a parent and math teacher I have found Everyday Math to provide a strong program which helps students develop "number sense", meaning they do not simply memorize algorithms, but actually understand why the they work. This is critical for students to use what they know to solve new problems or situations. I feel very strongly that kids need to do a certain amount of basic memorization- multiplication tables, etc. I am often shocked at how much high school students rely on calculators.

deprofundis442 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Doesn't the government decide on the ciriculum these days though? If that's so, then teachers don't really have a say.

gerstners (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

She is not claiming to be an expert in math.

xingfenzhen (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think her point is that those thing should be taught in geography class instead. You learn methods in math class and then apply them in other classes like geography, science etc, rather than combine them

xingfenzhen (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

TERC method is actually very similar to mental math techniques taught in china. expect we had to answer them verbally in class and then prove our answers on the blackboard with the traditional method. Also I wish abacus is taught in schools here, since it really teaches to break complex calculations into simpler ones, and do it very quickly...