MATH These days ?

So what's the scoop with math these days? (Im referring mostly to elementary school)..

Are students encouraged to use scrap paper? to show work?

I remember growing up we were STRONGLY encouraged to use scrap paper, and were given a piece for almost any test/worksheets, etc.

We always visualized or drew out a word problem to help work out the math..

I find that students NEVER jot down notes or doodle their thoughts or work out the problem or ANYTHING when it comes to math.
Is it a thing of the past ??
I still find it very helpful to me in just teaching math, and most of the time the students are like

soooooooooooo releived that they GET IT now that they have a visual....

So in connection to this question,
my question is:
are you told HOW to teach certain ways, or can you use your own way of teaching things (math) ?

Math is not one of my strengths, but I think that helps me in some ways because I have a very SIMPLE way of thinking out problems that helps the students get it easier..

Im very visual so I always give scenarios that they can relate to.
Like with the number line, they couldnt understand why -6 is more than -8 , and I tried to compare it to money being spent/lost...which was great.

Does it get confusing when you have to keep giving different examples to show something, and some will "get it" at one point and some at another point..

Re: MATH These days ?

no responses to this?
Elem teachers ?

Re: MATH These days ?

well, a little of both...

we have the prescribed program (Everyday Math) as well as Kaplan during test prep, but i know i always try to teach things multiple ways. not everyone sees things the same way. we use pictures, number models, and manipulatives.