Mathematics has never been my strong suit. I understand it’s not popular to admit that, but it’s the truth. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, we didn’t embrace the concept of a growth mindset. We simply fell into categories—those who excelled in math and those who didn’t; I was firmly in the latter group.
Now, as a parent of four children, three of whom attend public schools in Florida, they are learning math using the “new method.” You might think I would resent this modern approach to teaching math, especially since it appears quite complex to my Generation X perspective. The methods, filled with boxes, tally marks, and intricate word problems, seem overwhelming. Terms like “array” and “addition sentence” baffle me. And when questions ask for an explanation of how they arrived at an answer, I often think, “I used math—does that count?”
Surprisingly, I don’t dislike “new math.” As someone who has often struggled with math, I see the value in breaking concepts down and teaching them in ways that may help my children comprehend the underlying principles of mathematics. In my own schooling, I relied heavily on memorizing formulas. If I forgot one, I was at a loss, unable to navigate the concepts without rote memorization. However, my children seem to engage with math differently. They still need to memorize their multiplication tables, yet they grasp these new techniques, even if they appear foreign to my aging mind.
A recent visit to my second grader’s classroom for a Math Superstars enrichment lesson illustrated this perfectly. After discussing a word problem, one boy confidently raised his hand and mentioned he had arrived at the same answer using a different method. I was astounded; his approach was just as valid, even though it was something I would never have considered. In another instance, I began to guide another student through a word problem, only to find him already drawing circles and tally marks on the whiteboard, arriving at the correct answer before I could finish my thoughts. This kind of numerical confidence and flexibility would have seemed impossible to me at his age. Yet, for him and his peers, it’s a normal part of their learning experience. It makes me ponder how such a mindset will influence their approach to various challenges in life.
Many parents express disdain for the Common Core standards, associating the new math with its perceived shortcomings. While I have reservations about some aspects of my children’s education—especially the excessive high-stakes testing I feel detracts from instructional time—I recognize that the Common Core isn’t entirely detrimental. It does not directly dictate curriculum, and sometimes the approaches used yield positive results. In my experience, the new math appears effective. It doesn’t mirror the methods I learned, but then again, neither do my car’s features or the technology I use daily. Innovation is everywhere—why should math education be any different? While it may be more complicated and require effort, it encourages my children to think critically about numbers in ways I never did.
When my child encounters a math problem they find challenging, I do my best to help them. If I struggle to understand the material, I have no qualms about returning it to the teacher with a question mark attached. Their instructors are aware of my difficulties; they know I don’t fully grasp “new math.” It can be unsettling and frustrating, prompting thoughts of writing a complaint similar to those viral posts on social media. Nonetheless, my children—the ones actually learning math—seem to handle it well, facing only the occasional question or rough day. Ultimately, they are mastering math, and astonishingly so—even to someone like me who has always found it challenging.
In conclusion, while “new math” may present challenges for parents like myself, it ultimately supports my children in learning and understanding mathematical concepts effectively.
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Keyphrase: New Math Understanding
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