Meet the New Common Core

austinmshauri
Fri, 19 Jun 2015 12:43:23 +0000

Below is a sample Common Core math problem for 3rd grade that I found on one of our social media pages:

Add 26 + 17 by breaking apart numbers to make a Ten.

Use a number that adds with 6 to make a ten. Since 6+4=10, use 4.

Think 17=4+13
Add 26+4=30
Add 30+13=43
So, 26+17=43

I get the theory behind what they’re trying to do (although my dyscalculic DD wouldn’t have had a clue) but how does that work out when you have a column of numbers? What’s wrong with carrying and borrowing? I taught my DD the traditional methods and she’s now doing grade level high school math. If she adds 6+7 and gets 13, then carries the 1 (which she understands as 1 group of 10) to the 10’s column and ends up with the right answer, how is that wrong? According to local parents in our public school, it would be because it’s not the Common Core method.

from the [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/11/08/why-so-many-parents-are-freaking-out-about-common-core-math/) Phil Daro, one of the lead writers of Common Core math, says math tricks have already tarnished the math brand for countless students.

If students can no longer use math tricks (like cross multiplying fractions or crossing off zereos when dividing by 100), will those tricks be banned on the SAT? It should be an interesting test if all the work has to be shown the Common Core way.