kitchen table math, the sequel: crash course

Friday, February 16, 2007

crash course


CliffsNotes Parent's Crash Course Elementary School Math


question:

Why do parents need a crash course in elementary school math?


answer:
A practical guide + a few minutes = success! There are more than 33.6 million kids in grades K 8 in public schools. So think how many parents are struggling to help their kids with the dreaded math homework.

[snip]

Features include model problems to help parents zero in on the right topic, many sample problems with step by step solutions, and a glossary of relevant terms.

All clear now.

Parents need a crash course in elementary school math because it's up to the parent to make sure the child actually learns elementary school math.

6 comments:

LynnG said...

Great find.

Do they have a crash course book for reading and spelling, too?

February break starts this week in Connecticut. My first grader brought home a thick packet addressed to PARENTS on all of the words we need to teach our kids to spell properly before the end of 1st grade. I've already tossed the packet, but I should have saved it just for the arrogance of the way it addressed parents.

All clear now, indeed. Here's a list of words your 1st grader can't spell, please teach her to do it. Here's a packet of problems your 5th grader can't do, please teach her, too.

Instructivist said...

It's wrong for schools to expect parents to do the teaching that schools should be doing.

On the other hand, an intellectually stimulating home life makes a huge difference in a pupil's academic performance. I see it all the time. I can tell from the ones who grasp and retain new material and the ones who don't what's happening in their home life. Teaching the latter is like cranking a diesel in a Midwest winter.

Anonymous said...

" I can tell from the ones who grasp and retain new material and the ones who don't what's happening in their home life."

Really? How can you tell this?

Catherine Johnson said...

My first grader brought home a thick packet addressed to PARENTS on all of the words we need to teach our kids to spell properly before the end of 1st grade. I've already tossed the packet, but I should have saved it just for the arrogance of the way it addressed parents.

Unbelievable.

You DEFINITELY should have saved it.

See if you can get a copy from a friend - we can post it.

Incredible.

Catherine Johnson said...

PLUS MEMORIZATION ISN'T THE WAY TO GO.

A good curriculum "pre-chunks" words, math - everything.

No one can learn spelling, reading, etc. just by memorizing lists.

It really is amazing the way ed school grads have no understanding of how you get material into long-term memory.

They still think the way it's done is you just sit down and memorize a bunch of stuff straight-up.

Catherine Johnson said...

I wonder if this is going to be the new approach to state tests in affluent communities with educated parents.

"The school needs good scores on state tests; here's the stuff you need to teach your kids to make that happen."

We'll carry on exploring & investigating.