'We hate math', say a majority of Americans

[tblue37]

43. Just as with machinery--or any other kind of system--the more "moving parts"

Last edited Wed Jun 4, 2014, 09:58 PM - Edit history (1)

involved, the more opportunity there is for something to go wrong. It takes only one small mistake or one small breakdown in the complex system to throw everything else completely out of whack, and then it usually takes a long time to check each element in the system to figure out where it went wrong.

If, as often happens, there is more than a single mistake, the lengthy checking process might have to be undertaken several times before the whole mess gets straightened out.

If they truly want to help the kids conceptualize like this, then all they have to do is supply each kid with an abacus. It is faster and simpler, and they are less likely to make a mistake, yet it creates a similar (though much clearer) visual representation of place values.