Teaching children to add, subtract, multiply, and divide is not difficult. It’s not that every child gets it quickly, but if it’s drilled until learned, no child will ever forget their addition and times tables.
Many modern-day educators hate the idea of repetitive learning methods and drills. It’s no wonder that many kids can’t make change, still count using their fingers, and are often lost if they do not have a calculator at hand.
Many modern-day educators hate the idea of repetitive learning methods and drills. It’s no wonder that many kids can’t make change, still count using their fingers, and are often lost if they do not have a calculator at hand.
My wife taught elementary school for a good many years. Every child she ever taught learned their addition and times tables because she drilled them until they knew them. It’s that simple. Parents must be involved in the process. Can it be frustrating? Does it take work? Yes. Is there a payoff? Yes.
Every child would have to face her one-on-one. She would show a card and expect a student to rattle off the answer in a split second. Thus, “flash cards” – students had to answer in a flash.
Once the basic facts are mastered, teaching how the facts work together is made much easier.
Here’s a clip from Abbott and Costello on doing math. It's what many parents fear Common Core will become:
Every child would have to face her one-on-one. She would show a card and expect a student to rattle off the answer in a split second. Thus, “flash cards” – students had to answer in a flash.
Once the basic facts are mastered, teaching how the facts work together is made much easier.
Here’s a clip from Abbott and Costello on doing math. It's what many parents fear Common Core will become:
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