Common Core Math: A shift towards understanding vs. memorizing
Common Core Math has gotten a poor reputation in the media. It appears to be a completely foreign language that changes everything we know about math...but is it really that bad?
While past math teaching practices asked students to memorize and recall, new math teaching practices ask students to understand and apply. Yes, this is more difficult. It requires more critical thinking, more questions, and more connections. It requires a higher level of thinking from our students, and that can be frustrating for students who suddenly feel challenged where they used to feel ease.
However, once students get past the hurdles of change, it will ultimately make them stronger. Students will see and understand the connections between one chapter and the next- between
one year and the next. Instead of memorizing a formula just to forget it the next year, they will
start to see the connections and reasons behind the formulas they are using to solve a problem.
In an essence, "old math" taught procedures while "new math" teaches conceptual understanding.
Procedural method of teaching math Conceptual method of teaching math
1. Copy down this formula/ procedure. 1. What formula/ procedure will you need to solve this problem?
2. Practice this procedure with different numbers. 2. Discuss why this formula works.
3. Take a test and move on to the next formula. 3. Apply this formula in different situations.
Common Core Math has gotten a poor reputation in the media. It appears to be a completely foreign language that changes everything we know about math...but is it really that bad?
While past math teaching practices asked students to memorize and recall, new math teaching practices ask students to understand and apply. Yes, this is more difficult. It requires more critical thinking, more questions, and more connections. It requires a higher level of thinking from our students, and that can be frustrating for students who suddenly feel challenged where they used to feel ease.
However, once students get past the hurdles of change, it will ultimately make them stronger. Students will see and understand the connections between one chapter and the next- between
one year and the next. Instead of memorizing a formula just to forget it the next year, they will
start to see the connections and reasons behind the formulas they are using to solve a problem.
In an essence, "old math" taught procedures while "new math" teaches conceptual understanding.
Procedural method of teaching math Conceptual method of teaching math
1. Copy down this formula/ procedure. 1. What formula/ procedure will you need to solve this problem?
2. Practice this procedure with different numbers. 2. Discuss why this formula works.
3. Take a test and move on to the next formula. 3. Apply this formula in different situations.