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msanthrope

(37,549 posts)

2. Seriously???

Reply to madfloridian (Original post)

Sat Nov 22, 2014, 10:14 PM

Nov 2014

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How would you answer this 1st grade test question. Explain your reasoning. [View all] madfloridian Nov 2014 OP

14-4-2? It is sort of how I do it in my head. bettyellen Nov 2014 #1

Seriously??? msanthrope Nov 2014 #2

I am so glad my kids are out of school B2G Nov 2014 #124

I guess I'd choose the "14-4-2", but I don't know what the petronius Nov 2014 #3

Same here, I have no idea what that's all about. arcane1 Nov 2014 #6

The kids call them "tens boxes" Codeine Nov 2014 #94

Hmmm. Interesting. I've been reading your comments throughout the thread and they make sense stevenleser Nov 2014 #188

It's giving the answer. joshcryer Nov 2014 #47

14-4-2 is how I do it. uppityperson Nov 2014 #4

I'm not entirely sure I even understand the question arcane1 Nov 2014 #5

Same here. LuvNewcastle Nov 2014 #12

I am with you .... make a ten. I take it the (14 - 4) makes the ten. = Tuesday Afternoon Nov 2014 #45

You would if you had been exposed to the lessons sammytko Nov 2014 #74

Yeah, that lack of context is where the "shock value" comes from. arcane1 Nov 2014 #123

The idea is to "make a 10" because it's easier to subtract from 10 than from a larger number. Why? demwing Nov 2014 #115

sort of like approximation? yurbud Nov 2014 #153

The only illustration that makes sense to me is the third box. RoverSuswade Nov 2014 #7

You have to fill in the bubble. The boxes all relate. madfloridian Nov 2014 #39

How do first grade minds work? joshcryer Nov 2014 #48

Exactly! sammytko Nov 2014 #75

Same here! joshcryer Nov 2014 #87

This isn't first grade math AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #140

14 - 4 - 2 ... because, 14 - 4 = 10, 10 - 2 = 8, = 14 - 6 = 8 n/t RKP5637 Nov 2014 #8

Freakin gibberish is WTF that is! I wouldn't even call it a math problem and I got as far as brewens Nov 2014 #9

I don't even get the question...... Dyedinthewoolliberal Nov 2014 #10

Time's up! Pass in your paper! LOL!!! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2014 #16

Can you please repeat that in English? cherokeeprogressive Nov 2014 #11

14 = 2 hands and 4 toes Downwinder Nov 2014 #13

It seems designed for failure. pacalo Nov 2014 #14

This is simple. Codeine Nov 2014 #99

It is simple. It's just hard for those of us that learned the memorization methods of old. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #175

I get what they did here. Control-Z Nov 2014 #15

That is not correct syntax. Rex Nov 2014 #17

It is when you're taught that way. Codeine Nov 2014 #95

The question is worded oddly. Jenoch Nov 2014 #18

This is simple math. Codeine Nov 2014 #106

You are correct Jenoch Nov 2014 #121

I frequently do the same. Jenoch Nov 2014 #189

This IS simple math. 14-6! Except they are teaching a specific way to calculate inside one's head. Threedifferentones Nov 2014 #180

The question is the key - "Which way to make a ten to solve..." csziggy Nov 2014 #19

The whole point seems to be to slow them down Wella Nov 2014 #55

Yeah, I lost interest in math once they made me write down the steps csziggy Nov 2014 #56

I don't think it works for most people in general Wella Nov 2014 #58

It must be a success, then csziggy Nov 2014 #59

That's why so many of us are opposed to Common Core Wella Nov 2014 #60

And my experience was 55 years ago, long before Common Core or New Math! csziggy Nov 2014 #61

Tin foil hat, here, but I think that was deliberate Wella Nov 2014 #62

I'm starting to suspect that - the education my nieces and nephews got was bad csziggy Nov 2014 #64

Why put foreign in there, unless you have something against foreignors? Bandit Nov 2014 #79

Because if they are foreign, they can be much more abused than American citizens Wella Nov 2014 #135

Thank you. Rote memorization is the best way to get such small math facts in Nay Nov 2014 #68

I'm with you on that. Wella Nov 2014 #136

They still teach rote memorization AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #141

Lol! CrispyQ Nov 2014 #114

Oh, how well I know the part about a clock with a face! csziggy Nov 2014 #127

14-4-2 gollygee Nov 2014 #20

Interesting reasoning bhikkhu Nov 2014 #21

It hasn't been taught this way. joshcryer Nov 2014 #50

Exactly. This codifies and teaches Codeine Nov 2014 #103

I have to agree. Many of the things I learned in school made no sense bhikkhu Nov 2014 #138

This is what they call "Everyday Math" Tree-Hugger Nov 2014 #22

The Chicago.edu site looked pretty logical Warpy Nov 2014 #65

That's the way it is done Tree-Hugger Nov 2014 #167

All math makes your head spin AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #142

That question is incoherent to educated adults (see the responses on this thread) Yavin4 Nov 2014 #23

It's only incomprehensible to us Codeine Nov 2014 #104

Traditional methods of adding and subtracting AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #143

Wrong. A kid is going to be exposed to this for the first time, and learn the method. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #174

As an engineer who tutored many kids in my past U4ikLefty Nov 2014 #24

We have a high percentage of foreign born in our district, and that has always been my argument pnwmom Nov 2014 #28

Actually I agree, but they were excetional math students, better than many US-born kids. U4ikLefty Nov 2014 #31

Yes, after they have a command of the basic math skills pnwmom Nov 2014 #41

I'm currently in a mood about division and 4th grade math in general. glowing Nov 2014 #119

It just makes me wonder dumbcat Nov 2014 #25

I think it's because the "eggheads" were education majors who always hated math pnwmom Nov 2014 #42

WHAT??????????????? I actually WAS one (English Lit here), and I say this "question" is BIZARRE. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #109

The question makes sense to kids taught Codeine Nov 2014 #113

I'm sure many things make sense to those "taught to understand." Scientology, e.g. The POINT, WinkyDink Nov 2014 #171

What question? pnwmom Nov 2014 #137

Uh....the OP? WinkyDink Nov 2014 #170

This shit is why I can't help my 5th grader with homework anymore. n/t DeadLetterOffice Nov 2014 #26

So kids who can barely read are confronted with word problems pnwmom Nov 2014 #27

Thank you. Rex Nov 2014 #29

Children haven't changed. That's the problem. pnwmom Nov 2014 #46

They really are, though. Codeine Nov 2014 #101

I have to agree - in the 70's, getting to algebra in high school was something bhikkhu Nov 2014 #169

Idiots are in charge of education. JEFF9K Nov 2014 #30

Welcome to common core Peregrine Nov 2014 #32

Why can't they just solve 14 - 6 ? world wide wally Nov 2014 #33

That's how I learned. 840high Nov 2014 #37

The worksheet will have the normal way on it as well. joshcryer Nov 2014 #52

They do. Codeine Nov 2014 #97

I think people assume that this is all they are taught AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #144

What the hell is this? Brigid Nov 2014 #34

I can't begin to guess what the question or the pictures or the examples SheilaT Nov 2014 #35

This "new math" is supposed to be helpful, right? ManiacJoe Nov 2014 #36

Is the question worded the same way that the lessons are worded in class?...nt SidDithers Nov 2014 #38

"How to make a ten" - what the fuck does that even mean? KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #40

All I could think of is how to make a 1 and 2. Rex Nov 2014 #51

It just means that 14-4=10. (nt) stone space Nov 2014 #81

Yeah, I figured it out from context eventually. But I wonder what KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #91

I'm not sure about how to make a ten, but I can see how to make a few $1000... Silent3 Nov 2014 #43

+1 nt Live and Learn Nov 2014 #70

Hit the nail on the head jamzrockz Nov 2014 #158

Base ten counting is messed up to start with. hunter Nov 2014 #44

Space-faring species? Shankapotomus Nov 2014 #69

Two of them. The one that works base 27 says... stone space Nov 2014 #80

Okay but Shankapotomus Nov 2014 #83

By counting their fingers and toes, I suppose. stone space Nov 2014 #85

Positional notation is not where five becomes the jokester. hunter Nov 2014 #130

Like Dr. Who... hunter Nov 2014 #125

My answer: ohheckyeah Nov 2014 #49

14-4-2 fob Nov 2014 #53

Umm. That seems poorly worded. bravenak Nov 2014 #54

I'm a fully credentialed substitute teacher who now LibDemAlways Nov 2014 #57

I was so traumatized cwydro Nov 2014 #63

14 - 4 - 2 Liberal_in_LA Nov 2014 #66

Congratulations, you pass first grade. Live and Learn Nov 2014 #71

I have a question about this...is it really better for most students HereSince1628 Nov 2014 #78

I agree with you. There are many who have great problems with this. madfloridian Nov 2014 #168

When's recess, my brain hurts. (nt) Inkfreak Nov 2014 #67

just home school DeadEyeDyck Nov 2014 #72

I don't even understand that TransitJohn Nov 2014 #73

14-4-2, because all the other choices involve '5' muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #76

14-6=14-(4+2)=14-4-2=10-2=8. That's how I'd do it without the instructions. (nt) stone space Nov 2014 #77

Really? Because as a small child I would've just said "14 - 6 = 8." Simplicity itself. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #111

In would have had to look at the addition table to do it that way. stone space Nov 2014 #134

And then show rock Nov 2014 #82

Just to be pedantic, thats "aleph" sub 0. sir pball Nov 2014 #156

I LOVE pedantic rock Nov 2014 #159

Nah, I don't stalk. sir pball Nov 2014 #161

First, I would go to class on the days when they explained how to get the correct answer... Iggo Nov 2014 #84

Aren't YOU just the Little Lord Fauntleroy. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #112

Heheheh. Iggo Nov 2014 #154

This is first grade. MineralMan Nov 2014 #86

Kids are information sponges. joshcryer Nov 2014 #89

I doubt it is first grade AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #145

I was a test subject of the "New Math" in the early 60's... PCIntern Nov 2014 #88

14 - 4 - 2 moriah Nov 2014 #90

I did not know... Sneak the freak Nov 2014 #92

The system they use now Codeine Nov 2014 #102

I doubt this is a first grade math lesson AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #146

That's first grade math. Codeine Nov 2014 #148

It's number theory AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #164

I have a little boy in the first grade. Codeine Nov 2014 #93

The way we learned math is equally weird, MineralMan Nov 2014 #96

Is he taught to draw a block of 10, and of 4, cross out the 4, and then draw another block of 10? muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #98

He probably did that twice. Codeine Nov 2014 #100

Having to draw it twice doesn't seem 'immediate' to me muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #105

I mean he used physical drawn-out tens-blocks Codeine Nov 2014 #110

What I mean is that the diagram in the question has 4 groups muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #120

Thank you for this! Now, I see what they were doing. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2014 #107

"Completely insane" is my considered answer. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #108

Do a simple math problem in your head. rickford66 Nov 2014 #116

I invented this approach as a kid back in the 70s. JoePhilly Nov 2014 #117

You don't have to memorize "8 + 7" TexasMommaWithAHat Nov 2014 #150

It's 14-4-2. LWolf Nov 2014 #118

Obviously, some of need a few refresher courses. I'll let Tom Lehrer explain it: Buns_of_Fire Nov 2014 #122

That was great! Better to understand what you're doing rather than get the right answer. madfloridian Nov 2014 #129

"rather than get the right answer." I'll take the right answer any day with my doctors. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #172

I'm going through this with my grandkids right now. They live with me and we do review every day. OregonBlue Nov 2014 #126

Your experience matches my own. Codeine Nov 2014 #131

Yes, it seems to be a new way of thinking and learning both math and reading and it seems to work. OregonBlue Nov 2014 #187

I don't even understand the question. Smarmie Doofus Nov 2014 #128

The notion is that adding or subtracting to and from a "ten" is quicker and easier Codeine Nov 2014 #133

So added steps are preferable to just knowing the values? "14" isn't exactly the national budget. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #173

But it's not about 14. Codeine Nov 2014 #178

I'm having eggs for breakfast! ScreamingMeemie Nov 2014 #132

I doubt that is first grade math AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #139

What are you on about? Codeine Nov 2014 #149

Yes they are AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #151

I don't understand the terminology. Warren Stupidity Nov 2014 #147

I don't even understand the question. yurbud Nov 2014 #152

A better question might be "Can you do this problem with your smart phone?" n/t Contrary1 Nov 2014 #155

Horrible, stupid, no good very bad question. It's a setup to discourage early. ancianita Nov 2014 #157

Hasn't discouraged my kids. Codeine Nov 2014 #162

I have a PhD in math and I don't get it Paula Sims Nov 2014 #160

This is simple number theory AgingAmerican Nov 2014 #163

The kids get it. Blue_In_AK Nov 2014 #165

They cycled New Math twice during my teaching years. madfloridian Nov 2014 #166

The smartass answer davidpdx Nov 2014 #176

14-4-2, because take away 4, get 10, 2 left of the original six, subtract 2 from 10, bingo. AtheistCrusader Nov 2014 #177

At least somebody gets the point. Codeine Nov 2014 #179

This method involves more steps, but less combinations of numbers to be memorised muriel_volestrangler Nov 2014 #183

Yes, let's have one more bit of knowledge never to be memorized. We can call school WinkyDink Nov 2014 #190

this might kill creativity and problem solving ecstatic Nov 2014 #181

that question doesn't even make sense to me. magical thyme Nov 2014 #182

Seems interesting. NCTraveler Nov 2014 #184

No correct answer there because it should be (14-4) - 2 yellowcanine Nov 2014 #185

My kids learned math this way Bettie Nov 2014 #186

And we all know nobody will do this multi-step nonsense when we have hand-held tech to do it for us. WinkyDink Nov 2014 #191

I seldom use tech for math Bettie Nov 2014 #192

We still need to know how to think. Codeine Nov 2014 #193