I urge everyone to watch this video that I found on Digg. My response to the video is as follows:
“I don’t really see the big deal, though the “terc method” seemed a bit odd, “everyday mathematics” seems like a pretty good text book.” – Nathan07
Wow. I agree 100% with this video. I am a freshman in high school. I used “Everyday Math” text books, which, I must say did teach us math; and luckily, our school also taught us the standard algorithm. Our schools stance was “We present the kids with different methods and they choose which they like best.” This idea was fine. I learned how to multiply and divide; I use the standard method. I remember thinking when we were learning the other methods that is was a waste of time – I can promise you it was. I do not know one student in my Honors Algebra 2 (which is the highest track in my school) class that uses any of those methods – Everyday Math wastes class time. There is one other MAJOR flaw with Everyday Math that she only quickly when over. She said that Everyday Math does not help the children learn how to work logically. This is completely correct. Students in my classes have problems working out problems that require logic – that must be done in an order. Luckily I started programming at a young age (when I was about 9 years old) and I have developed the skills required to work out these problems. I feel bad for the students who do no have the skills needed.
Just a note: A high percentile of students (me included) do not have their basic multiplication tables memorized. I urge everyone to make sure their schools are not using Everyday Math – the other math book sounds even worse then Everyday Math – I can only imagine what is happening to those students.
