The Daily Caller – by Robby Soave
A second grader’s answers to a Common Core-aligned math worksheet were marked as incorrect because they weren’t “friendly” enough… even though they were the right answers.
A screenshot of the worksheet was posted to Twitter. The teacher wrote that even though the questions — addition and subtraction problems — were solved correctly, the student used the wrong technique to arrive at the answers.
https://twitter.com/smheath11/statuses/448280845280096256
“Correct answers, but let’s find the ‘friendly’ numbers,” wrote the teacher.
The teacher wanted the student to solve “530 – 270 = ?” in the following manner: First, add 30 to both numbers, changing the problem to “560 – 300 = ?”. These numbers are the “friendly” numbers, because they are supposedly easier to work with.
The student, however, simply subtracted 270 from 530 the good old-fashioned way, arriving at the same answer. Unfortunately, this is not a Common Core-approved technique.
Though friendly numbers can be useful, the worksheet illustrates the weird priorities of Common Core, according to Twitchy:
In Common Core math, it often is not good enough to get the correct answer. Instead, students are required to show “higher order” thinking skills — in this case, use of the associative property. Yes, the associative property is important and should be taught at some point. Unfortunately, we suspect that many 7-year olds will not be able to understand this particular assignment. With limited days in the school year, wouldn’t second graders — second graders! — be better off spending their time attempting to master the traditional subtraction algorithm?
The Daily Caller readers know that this is not the first Common Core worksheet to baffle young children and infuriate adults.
My fellow Patriots we are indeed in bad ,bad times.
P.S. Henry, please I beg you do not start using these types of problems in your security questions :/
How about less friendly problems for the foes (not foehammers). Confuse and discourage ’em.
Okay — now I have to point out some of our propaganda. This article was written to inflame people over what looks like an “ultra-liberal” approach to arithmetic that’s used by the Commie Core system, but this particular teaching method has some merits.
The reason they’re insisting on this method of adding “friendly” numbers is because it’s teaching kids how to solve arithmetic problems in their head, without pen, paper, or calculator, and I think it’s a good practice, because it also teaches them to think a little bit too.
I’m actually surprised to see them encourage thinking, but that’s what they’re doing here rather than limiting them to learning only the repetitive processes of pen-and-paper calculation.
The question specifically states “Show how to simplify the problem”
The child failed to answer the question.
The exercise was to demonstrate a process or technique.
Had the question been “give the correct answer” then his response would have been correct.
Knee jerk nonsense article.
My kids were subjected to this nonsense in school. Our county was a pilot for this Common Core. You better believe I was outraged. I had to teach my kids myself. And then decided I’d have better luck if I simply pulled them out and homeschooled them. Those foundation years are critically important — if you miss that window when they are young, it is very difficult to make it up later. Much damage is done.
Here’s another thing: This confusing math is taught to most of the kids. But a select few get the traditional algorithms and if your kid is not in this select group, forget about it.
What is very hard is that today’s parents did not see this coming. They have been out of school awhile. So when it hits, they are unprepared. It is not merely slightly bad; it is so outrageously bad that it is dumbfounding (intentionally so, I believe). And also part of the plan is to waste the parent’s time by allowing many meetings with the school to discuss the issue, but with no intention of changing a thing. During that time the parent is advocating, they have some hope that they can effect positive change. The schools collect “feedback” and that way they can say they consulted the “stakeholders.” But they just continue on with the program as designed and intended all along. Very much like that superintendent who refuses to remove the workbook that incorrectly presents the second amendment.
Definitely, very bad times. 🙁
I’m not defending Commie Core as a whole — only this one method of teaching arithmetic.
🙂 Yeah, I know.
What I found in teaching math to my kids and also tutoring other students was that this method of doing the problems mostly confused them. There is a curriculum called Singapore Math which does a pretty good job of teaching arithmetic, and Common Core has adopted SOME of these methods but in an inferior (and confusing) way, in my opinion. I am no expert, but the little experience I have had, has shown me that most kids learn best if they are taught one, coherent method of approaching math. Not a little from here, a little from here — the smorgasbord approach. That approach is very confusing! Older people can handle it better, but that’s because we have laid a foundation.
I think I figured it out, after sitting and looking at other common core problems and wondering what kind of moron would come up with this.
In our federal system we have millions of people sticking their nose in other people’s business all day long. In order to keep the bees happily working in the hive and smelling the rotting rat carcass the entire system has become they must be less than bright. In fact the dumber they are the better, as long as they can steal other peoples money and rights.
So the common part of the name relates to the average intelligence of those creating these programs, special education types mostly. Now the word core in the name is a little more problematic, but then you have to consider that the federal level morons in this country have been math challenged forever. And the math they use has never made sense or led to the right answer and since it mostly just used to over up fraud anyway, this more than likely is their cor math method.
This does not help our position in the world at all since the only thing this scholastic system can do is create either angry or stupid students. But then you have to realize that is part of the goal too.
Why are we allowing others to set the standards for our local schools? Or for that matter for anything? I missed that part in the constitution.
I wonder why anyone sends their kids to these schools any more.
Why they send their kids to these schools: They didn’t know beforehand, so they didn’t have a plan in their minds for an alternative, perhaps both parents work or it is a single parent household and they didn’t prepare mentally or through work arrangements to be able to homeschool. They have been indoctrinated themselves and trust “authority” (the school system). They went through these schools and thought they were “fine” and have no idea how bad they have become. They need the free “daycare” that public school is, in order to go to work to pay their basic bills. Lots of reasons.
This Common Core is a communist plot. It really is.
The “critical thinking” it claims to teach is anything BUT. Teaching endless “multiple strategies” for solving problems only serves to confuse children. All you need is one, good strategy, and most kids will get it. Proceed on that. Then, if a handful are still confused, explain to those students (individually) with another strategy. We have gone from one-size-fits-all education to every-size-fits-none education. This is waaaaaay overboard, and the kids are honestly confused. They feel stupid and shut down and act out (and get diagnosed with behavioral disorders). It’s a crisis.
yea the cops are below 104, and teachers, 94? or is that too generous?
I’m still trying to figure out the “new math” from the 60s.