Math has never been my strong suit. I know it’s not trendy to admit that, but it’s the truth. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, there wasn’t much emphasis on growth mindsets. You either excelled at math or you didn’t, and I definitely fell into the latter category.
Now, as a parent of four, three of whom are enrolled in Florida public schools, I find my kids learning math in what’s often referred to as the “new way.” You might think that I’d be frustrated with these modern teaching methods. After all, to my Generation X eyes, it all seems quite convoluted. Those boxes, hash marks, and lengthy word problems confuse me. What on earth is an array, anyway? Or an addition sentence? And don’t get me started on the prompts asking, “Explain how you reached this answer.” I could simply say, “I did math,” right?
However, I don’t actually dislike “new math.” As someone who has traditionally struggled with math, I can appreciate the effort to break concepts down into digestible parts for my children. Back in my day, I memorized formulas, and if I couldn’t recall one, I was lost. My kids, on the other hand, seem to grasp math differently. Although they still memorize multiplication tables, they understand the concepts behind the numbers, even if it looks like a foreign language to me.
Just last week, I visited my second grader’s classroom to conduct a Math Superstars enrichment lesson. After presenting a word problem, a little boy raised his hand and said, “Mrs. Collins, I solved it another way.” He confidently explained his unique method, which was just as valid as mine. In another instance, I began to help a student break down another word problem, but he was already drawing circles and hash marks on the board and wrote the correct answer before I could say a word. To see such confidence and creativity in problem-solving at that age was astonishing. I wonder how this mindset will influence their learning beyond math in the future.
Most parents I know are critical of Common Core, which is often blamed for the new math approach. While I have reservations about some aspects of Common Core, particularly the excessive high-stakes testing my kids face, I believe not all of it is bad. The standards don’t dictate how math should be taught, and sometimes, the approaches work. From my experience, new math is effective. It may not resemble the math I grew up with, but then again, neither do my gadgets or the way I interact with technology. The world evolves, and education should too.
So, when my child encounters a challenging math problem, I do my best to help. But if I’m completely baffled, I feel no shame in sending a note back to the teacher with a question mark. They understand that I struggle with “new math.” It can be uncomfortable and frustrating, and sometimes makes me want to vent on social media. Yet, my kids—who are actually learning this material—seem to adapt well, experiencing only the typical challenges. Ultimately, they are mastering math, and surprisingly well at that.
Even to my math-challenged mind, that certainly adds up.
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Summary:
This article expresses a parent’s perspective on “new math” and its effectiveness in teaching children. While the author struggled with traditional math methods, she appreciates the new approaches that encourage critical thinking and creativity. Despite common criticism of Common Core, the author believes that changes in educational methods can lead to better understanding among students.
Keyphrase: New Math Benefits
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