A lot of the teaching materials for this methodology sucks although the concept isn’t awful in itself.
When my ne was in the 4th grade (now 6th) and he was complaining about how ridiculous “(Show Your Work)” is, I explained ‘the system’ to him and how to cope.
He’s like me in that he does math in his head, his own way. The answer usually pops in via flash of insight or follows its own routine.
So I explained why they don’t care about the right answer so much as showing your work. Showing work gives the teacher something to show THEIR boss that they’re doing THEIR jobs right, which lets them get paid. The teacher’s boss shows HER boss, the school board, that she’s doing HER job, which means the school gets money.
As far as the math goes, I suggest he does it twice: Once in his head for the right answer, and THEN do it whatever way it says on the homework.
Give them what they EXPECT to see so they keep their jobs but whatever way you’re doing it in your head seems to work, so use it.
So, I was advising him to do it twice. His way first, then ALSO their way.
It worked. He understands how the school system works (or did while it was still under “No Child Left Behind”, which is what I was explaining) and he does the math twice.
One day, in 5th grade, he says “I like counting by fives and tens and adding the negative now”. So he uses it sometimes now himself.
He’s smarter than me. He’s in advanced classes in 6th grade (Cambridge program) and doing great.
Is any of this credit to common core? No idea. I think the credit mostly goes to his 2nd grade teacher who was otherwise awful but was smart enough to start him on the road to accelerated classes.
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