Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

Is your school district still using it? Because ours changed back this year. Thank God bc I was lost (mostly on the concept of helping them not the actual math MOST of the time LOL) I was just saying last year they need to give the parents a course to at least be able to help with the homework. But then I saw their stuff this year and they have switched.

Anyone else switch back? We are in Massapequa.

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

what do you mean "new math"?

the concepts are usually the same, just the way they teach it is different. we now need to teach strictly to the NYS standards and include and exclude things that may now be what we remember as kids.

every district uses a different series, i assume you mean your district changed series this year. some are better than others and some confuse teachers as much as parents!

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

Well I don't know what it's officially called but everyone I know calls it new math. The concept of arriving at the answer different that we use to in school. ie, 4x9 = 36 but instead they do 4x10 = 40 - 4 = 36 bc it's easier for kids to remember 4x10 = 40 and then take off the 4. That's just a simple example, it gets more complicated.

My DS is in 3rd grade and he does great with the concept, we were in the store the other day and he brought some of his own money and he was adding it up in his head using that method. I was lost at how he kept track, although from being an adult and having some grasp of math, I knew what he could afford. But no way I would have arrived at the exact # in my head like he did, which was amazing to me but intimidating bc sometimes I don't know how to help show his work at home.

He's very good at math and most of the time the teacher doesn't ask him to show his work.

But this year they went back to teaching the first graders in the old method.

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

Robbie is using new math. Actually.. last year they taught a variety of algorithms for arriving at answers in different manners. Robbie made up a few of his own. They also taught 'the old way' - which I am more comfortable with. Fortunately.. Robbie is really bright (he's a Math Olympiad) so I don't really have to 'help' him. And.. if Noah needs help I plan on using Robbie!

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

omg..Im in such trouble when DD starts Elem. school.

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

I teach 4th and I teach partial products, lattice and the traditional way to multiply. I would never know these concepts if I didn't teach them!

Re: Stacey's comment about new math got me wondering...

I believe DD is doing both. Personally, I find it all very confusing.