(01-16-2015, 11:49 PM)Naunet Wrote: The method itself is not the problem. Diverse teaching strategies doesn't mean teach to a different curriculum, just to approach the method in a different way. Perhaps writing out the steps does nothing for one student (there are many kids who have varying levels of dysgraphia that often, sadly, goes undiagnosed though it can be countered given time), but perhaps manipulating tiles to illustrate the method makes things suddenly clear.

You're taking issue with the wrong part of the equation, so to speak.

(01-16-2015, 03:17 PM)Kage Wrote: I'm hoping this doesn't become a cesspool of political hot topics.

But... I want to rant about how ludicrous this is.

http://instagram.com/p/tip3MSN0-T/
Example above says: Tell how to make 10 when adding 8+5.


Example above sounds just like. BS in EE. Advanced mathematics. THE SIMPLE APPROACH.

Everything I see about common core mathematics makes me want to puke.

Also google's first suggestion when I typed in "common core" was "common core is stupid"

You know me so well and I'm at work.

(01-16-2015, 07:34 PM)Naunet Wrote: The backlash has been unnecessarily exacerbated by adults who refuse to accept that maybe the way they learned things was not the best and are determined to keep their kids in the dark. It's honestly rather disturbing to me that a lot of the argument against Common Core standards boils down to, "I didn't need to know this, so neither does my kid." What a stagnant view of education! Education is a science, and as such the techniques used to deliver it will change over time - just as our understanding of the world changes over time. Everyone would be much better off if they accepted that fact.

Honestly, the guy with a BS in Electronics Engineering who couldn't understand that rather simple homework problem was likely suffering from his own stubbornness and preconceived notions of how things should work. I'm a teacher, so I don't really like calling people "stupid" (at least when it comes to how they understand things), but he was rather blind.

(01-17-2015, 12:16 PM)Mae Wrote:

(01-16-2015, 07:34 PM)Naunet Wrote: The backlash has been unnecessarily exacerbated by adults who refuse to accept that maybe the way they learned things was not the best and are determined to keep their kids in the dark. It's honestly rather disturbing to me that a lot of the argument against Common Core standards boils down to, "I didn't need to know this, so neither does my kid." What a stagnant view of education! Education is a science, and as such the techniques used to deliver it will change over time - just as our understanding of the world changes over time. Everyone would be much better off if they accepted that fact.

Honestly, the guy with a BS in Electronics Engineering who couldn't understand that rather simple homework problem was likely suffering from his own stubbornness and preconceived notions of how things should work. I'm a teacher, so I don't really like calling people "stupid" (at least when it comes to how they understand things), but he was rather blind.

I can't presume to be in the parent's mind, but I'd be willing to wager (based on my own reaction to seeing Common Core the first time) that it was less "stubbornness" "wanting to keep kids in the dark" and more "good parent wanting to help a struggling child with their math homework, but can't because overly-complicated new rules and superfluous steps to what is a simple math problem." 

Which seems to be the heart of MOST of the arguments being made against Common Core by parents: they cannot help their children who are already struggling with Common Core with their homework. The parent is sitting there, they can see the simple solution that really only requires a bag of beans to demonstrate the logic of it, but the child is telling them that they have to do it this other way or they'll get it wrong.

(01-17-2015, 12:32 PM)Naunet Wrote: A kid having trouble adjusting to a new way of thinking is not a bad thing and is to be expected, and given time that kid will adjust and be better off for it.

(01-16-2015, 05:53 PM)Blue Wrote: Let's see... I hate how hypocrite the politicians of my country (Italy) are being in relation to the terroristic attack in Paris. Everyone is Charlie Hebdo now, and apparently they forgot of all the satirical stand-up comedians, journalists and reporters they banned and fired from TV channels (all our main TV channels are owned by politicians, 3 to the Left and 3 to Silvio Berlusconi (who belongs to the Right) supposedly, but the co-director of the Left's TV channels is also a secretary to Berlusconi so you can guess who has the monopoly in the end), all because they dared talking of the church, of the politics, of how corrupted our government is, and most of all, of Berlusconi. You can read all of his crap on the wiki if you want, from his passion for minor prostitutes, how abuse of power for personal affairs, his fiscal evasion etc. He'll put any gangster you've had in the US to shame.

Thank goodness there's the Internet, or Italy would have no satire left to be seen.

And yet, today every one of our politicians shows off his Je Suis Charlie banner. It's fucking disgusting.