tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post5367919501005849425..comments2024-03-08T00:21:56.482-08:00Comments on kitchen table math, the sequel: math facts at The Key SchoolCatherine Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-5925399801377800722007-07-17T06:16:00.000-07:002007-07-17T06:16:00.000-07:00The Key school is incredible. My friend sent me co...The Key school is incredible. My friend sent me copies of her son's 5th grade math homework. <BR/><BR/>It was far past anything kids here can do, and the parents weren't helping with homework. My friend was shocked when I told her kids here can't do their math homework without "assistance."<BR/><BR/>"Assistance" is the school's term for what we do, btw.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-899773417291770952007-07-17T06:14:00.000-07:002007-07-17T06:14:00.000-07:00I was trying to figure out yesterday whether the c...I was trying to figure out yesterday whether the concept of "short term memory" has been abandoned by cognitive science, whether it's been renamed as "working memory," or wether there's some other option on the menu.<BR/><BR/>As far as I can tell, it's a combination of both. <BR/><BR/>"Working memory" has replaced "short term memory" (I think) but working memory means something a bit different from short term memory.<BR/><BR/>Working memory includes a "search function," which is the faculty that locates and uses the relevant information (7x6 in this case) in longterm memory.<BR/><BR/>I'll try to see if Willingham has a good definition I can post.<BR/><BR/>The Dudai book is a little hard to follow.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-49137576080862612272007-07-17T06:09:00.000-07:002007-07-17T06:09:00.000-07:00Automaticity frees working memory; that's what the...Automaticity frees working memory; that's what they're talking about.<BR/><BR/>That's correct.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-92001901279876703992007-07-16T19:59:00.000-07:002007-07-16T19:59:00.000-07:00"frees up the students minds"I've never been a big..."frees up the students minds"<BR/><BR/>I've never been a big fan of that comment either. They should just say that it makes life easier in the long run.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-25380582092713878572007-07-16T19:29:00.000-07:002007-07-16T19:29:00.000-07:00The approach may well work. But the idea that it ...The approach may well work. But the idea that it works because it "frees up the students minds" is just nonsense.Gary Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08353561351308596608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-6176717914320725832007-07-16T18:53:00.000-07:002007-07-16T18:53:00.000-07:00"Basically what they're doing is encouraging stude..."Basically what they're doing is encouraging students to fill up short term memory with trivial facts for easy retrevial, making retrevial of problem solving skills more difficult, not easier."<BR/><BR/><BR/>The multiplication table is not in my short term memory, and it's surely not trivial. It's definitely not trivial to those who have to stop and think what 6 times 7 is. When I have to solve complicated problems, instant recall of basic facts makes life a lot easier.<BR/><BR/>This is not about taking up space in one's memory (short or long term). There is plenty of room. Its about not wasting time on facts that can and should be automatic. It's about high expectations versus low expectations.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-91599492409281539732007-07-16T12:46:00.000-07:002007-07-16T12:46:00.000-07:00That part about freeing up students minds is just ...That part about freeing up students minds is just nonsense and shows a huge lack of understanding about how the mind works on the part of those from that school.<BR/><BR/>Basically what they're doing is encouraging students to fill up short term memory with trivial facts for easy retrevial, making retrevial of problem solving skills more difficult, not easier.<BR/><BR/>I don't have a lot of faith in the ability of that school if they believe the nonsense they put in their promo material.Gary Carsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08353561351308596608noreply@blogger.com