(Thanks to Ms. Kirkham for sharing this with me. I got a good laugh because if anything, it supports the need for Common Core Math standards, which include understanding place value and not relying on "cute" tricks and shortcuts.)
Sometimes I feel like Math shouldn't be called "Math" anymore because arithmetic (computation) is just one part of the problem-solving process. The methods for teaching Common Core Math are vastly different than simply teaching arithmetic because the end goal is not just a correct answer, it is genuine understanding of what is happening during the problem-solving process.
Outside school, I'm often asked what I think about Common Core Math.
Is it perfect? No.
Do I agree with everything? No.
Is there value in it? Yes.
Most educators argue that the point of Common Core is to ensure that students are college-ready, but honestly, it goes beyond that. For many reasons, we live in an intellectually lazy world, and that is a dangerous thing. Kids will eventually be adults, citizens who will make decisions that affect not only themselves, but others. We need to raise up a generation of thinkers and communicators who are able to question, analyze, and evaluate what they observe. Our world needs problem-solvers. "Math" is just one way to develop and practice these critical life skills.
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