Old School Math

“The Way You Learned Math Is So Old School”
NPR, March 5, 2011

Topic: Elementary math is being taught in a much different way than in the past.

Summary: Less emphasis is being placed on arithmetic than in the past. Even though “arithmetic is the gateway to algebra”, elementary math lessons are being taught differently and are now geared towards teaching students to think algebraically at a very young age. “There is nothing elementary about elementary mathematics education.”

Intended audience: Teachers, parents, general public.

Key Points:

• Students are being taught math in a way that makes them think algebraically at a young age.
• Often, parents don’t understand even elementary math homework, because it is so much different from the way they were taught as kids.
• Everyone is capable of understanding math and kids are brilliant!

Relevance: I know only a few of us are going into elementary education, but I thought this piece was really interesting. I took a couple of elementary math classes over the Summer/Fall at Portland Community College and noticed many people struggling with the ideas and methods. I think the way I was taught and the way kids are taught today was a mix of the “old school” and the “new school” methods. Good to remember as teachers that parents might not always be able to help students with some of what we may perceive to be easy topics!