General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why Would a Math Teacher Punish a Child for Saying 5 x 3 = 15? [View all]Xyzse
(8,217 posts)In doing it this way, it tends to allow those with a higher skill set to drift away from what could have been an interesting and rewarding field, settling kids to a conforming mediocrity that tends to cater to the lowest common denominator. Sadly, that just drags everyone down.
There was this opinion piece that commends going for the positive outliers, that learning can be a collaborative process and allowing kids to find what interests them for learning. I find that strategy coupled with perhaps teaching in this fashion for those that are struggling, to create more tools towards problem solving.
Unfortunately, this obsession on testing and forcing kids to solve problems in one specific way would stifle the ability to think beyond the pre-programmed settings. All the while snuffing out their attention span with needless steps that would make the mind wander.
I understand providing strategies and ways of thinking for solving problems, in fact, I can appreciate that. However, I can only see this working for the very young and those that are struggling.
When I was in high school, we called that MAPS, and I don't remember what it stood for since I never needed it. It was for those who was struggling in Math, Arts, Phonics and Science. Heh.