Teaching math....2013 Last week I purchased a burger at a fast food restaurant for $1.58. The counter girl took my $ 2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her, she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s: 1. Teaching Math In 1950s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit? 2. Teaching Math In 1960s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit? 3. Teaching Math In1970s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit? 4. Teaching Math In 1980s A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20. 5. Teaching Math In 1990s A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. ) 6. Teaching Math In 2009 Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho? 7. Teaching Math In 2013 Who cares, just steal the lumber from your rich neighbor's property. He won't have a gun to stop you, and it's OK anyway cuz it's redistributing the wealth.
Power goes out, and kids can't make change anymore. That is assuming, they could log the sale at all. They completely shut down stores now when the power fails, and the idea of writing down sales for later entry, is completely unknown.
Not quite what I said, and FIFY, I don't know. However, they are simply not held to that standard. It's not required of them. If they worked for me, it would not be a choice," right it down, make change, and keep good records. we will update the computer, when it's back online". Direction, not a choice. Start telling me "it's not my job" I will find someone who's job it is, and you will train them to replace you. This is a business, MY business.
Interesting conservative meme. There seems to be less emphasis on rote learnin' and mental 'rithmetic, but in some ways they are more advanced than students were back in the day...I can only speak for the New South Wales education system. My 10 year old grandson in 4th grade has elementary algebra pretty much nailed...he does the calculations in his head rather than on paper.
I had to take a Business Math class when I went back to college here a few years ago... required for the degree and OMG it was so boring. The reason it was so boring was that half the class absolutely could not understand how to deal with fractions. Add, subtract, OMG OMG, and forget about converting from percentage to fraction and back again. I spent most of my class explaining over and over and OVER to these people how to do it, as did the teacher. Thank gawd for smartphones with internet access because I finally just linked them all to an online percentage and fraction calculator. I was one of the youngest ones in the class. The people I was explaining all this to were in their 40s and 50s. Shoulda seen them when we got to creating loan amortization tables in Excel. Fetal positions abounded.
FIFY = Fixed It For You. Not trying to wist your tords. It's been my experience most drones in the "work"force will not work unless forced. The simple courtesy of writing something down for someone else or taking a message for someone else appears to have become a replusive act.
We see a lot of this "new" math in our household. It is so confusing and it is downright stupid. Because I am a rebel, I teach my children the way my grandmother taught me. She was a math teacher in the 30's and it is so simple. Math can actually be fun but no adays they make it so difficult.
Your grandson sounds like a visual learner which is good because current math requires figuring in the head but the children that are auditory learners or need the hands on learning are lost.
