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PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)

15. Young children's minds are a sponge

Thu Mar 12, 2015, 05:42 PM

Mar 2015

I think the schooling system is set up for the least common denominator so that you get a large percentage of students making it through.

My kindergartener can do adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division all in his head. Some pretty difficult problems and large numbers too. Once he is doing math problems on paper (1st or 2nd grade?) I'll probably start teaching algebra, trig, and calculus to him.
He remembers almost everything he hears. He can play chess and knows some linux bash line navigation. I do not even try as much as I should be as a parent, imo. Everything is a game, a challenge to him that he wants to take on. It is amazing to see how much they can understand so young, you just need to offer it to them.

I would like to see a schooling system that is more individualized, based on the student's abilities and interests, where you do not allow any fruit to rot on the tree for the child.

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10 Yr. Old Math genius enrolls in College [View all] packman Mar 2015 OP

That is awesome. nt bemildred Mar 2015 #1

Love this! peace13 Mar 2015 #2

Pretty amazing....my 10yo son tested on a 9th grade level in math ileus Mar 2015 #3

I am always in awe of such genius, SheilaT Mar 2015 #4

My first thought? Orrex Mar 2015 #5

My first thoughts? packman Mar 2015 #8

My first thought on reading this story was feeling a twinge of regret Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #6

She's ten years old ... surrealAmerican Mar 2015 #18

Mine too. hifiguy Mar 2015 #20

Cool that it's a black girl dissentient Mar 2015 #7

That was a component of my first thought... 2naSalit Mar 2015 #9

Norbert Wiener was a child prodigy who made good starroute Mar 2015 #10

Education in the UK is a bit different... HipChick Mar 2015 #17

This learning is available without what I would consider an isolating social atmosphere RadiationTherapy Mar 2015 #11

Sheldon was my first thought Telcontar Mar 2015 #12

That she's one beautiful and smart girl! woodsprite Mar 2015 #13

Career in banking too Omaha Steve Mar 2015 #14

Young children's minds are a sponge PowerToThePeople Mar 2015 #15

Before clicking: "Please let this be another Terence Tao" mathematic Mar 2015 #16

How many of us expected to click on this link and see an Asian boy? Codeine Mar 2015 #19

I will admit that I did. hifiguy Mar 2015 #21