11–20 of 42 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Honestly, what is the value of algebra if a child can’t even subtract?
The point is that they forbid the children that can subtract from learning algebra
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. Sorry, but what in the actual fuck kind of excuse is this?
Imagine trying to teach students year after year. Disgusting. /s
I truly believe limiting educational attainment for our smartest (or privileged, if you want) children is among the most obviously harmful things we can do as a society. It’s shocking to me that anyone can vote to make moves like that with a straight face. Of course we want everyone to get better education. But under-leveraging our highest potential children is a crime that takes future well-being from everyone.
After so many years, I can't say that these kinds of policies aren't malicious.
Hot take (having taught algebra to disadvantaged youth in a previous life): a lot of kids who struggle with algebra do so because it is taught in a way that assumes a solid grasp of arithmetic. But many kids do not . I've worked with high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. B…
>high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. Sorry, but what in the actual fuck kind of excuse is this?
But Algebra he can do. If you ask him to multiply or divide by hand he gets derailed loses the big picture and can't move forward.
So I don't know what percentage of students have this kind of problem. But they are certainly out there.
Hot take (having taught algebra to disadvantaged youth in a previous life): a lot of kids who struggle with algebra do so because it is taught in a way that assumes a solid grasp of arithmetic. But many kids do not . I've worked with high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. B…
> Algebra is just a term rewriting system following a small set of strict syntactical rules, and it can be taught that way successfully. What are the percentage of kids who can't handle subtraction but can handle Algebra taught this way? (I don't have to squint very hard to cast subtraction in the light of "a term rewriting system following a small set of strict syntactical rules".)
Hot take (having taught algebra to disadvantaged youth in a previous life): a lot of kids who struggle with algebra do so because it is taught in a way that assumes a solid grasp of arithmetic. But many kids do not . I've worked with high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. B…
>high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. Sorry, but what in the actual fuck kind of excuse is this?
As to why any individual struggled in the first place is different for every kid. But scar tissue around the subject builds year after year until it's painful for them to return to the subject.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Algebra is just a term rewriting system following a small set of strict syntactical rules, and it can be taught that way successfully. What are the percentage of kids who can't handle subtraction but can handle Algebra taught this way? (I don't have to squint very hard to cast subtraction in the light of "a term rewriting system following a small set of strict syntactical rules".)
Syntactic pattern matching is straightforward and visual.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>high schoolers who couldn't subtract, and weren't about to learn to, because they are completely burnt out on the concept from having it attempted to be taught to them year after year. Sorry, but what in the actual fuck kind of excuse is this?
My youngest is in honors algebra. Can't multiply or divide to save himself. My wife and I are both teachers. No amount of flashcards, extra work, summer tutoring can get it to stick. But Algebra he can do. If you ask him to multiply or divide by hand he gets derailed loses the big picture and can't move forward. So I don't know what percentage of students have this kind of problem. But they are certainly out there.
My experience is somewhat slanted as the context I worked on was a charter high school for students who were being failed by traditional schools for one reason or another. This meant I saw a high percentage of students who (almost by definition) struggled with elementary and middle school subjects, yet were perfectly capable learners when their individual learning styles were accounted for.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Imagine trying to teach students year after year. Disgusting. /s
Imagine highschoolers being too burnt out from failing to learn subtraction to learn subtraction. OP's comment reeks of the soft racism of low expectations.
These are kids who we were lucky to have show up to class each day, each failed by the traditional school system in some way. So rather than force feed them material they hated and knew they hated because they didn't get it before and were now so far behind they felt like failures, we taught them material which was at their grade level that didn't depend on areas they struggled with and was interesting to them.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Syntactic pattern matching is straightforward and visual.
And what will these folks who can do algebra but not arithmetic do with their skill? Are there any applications that don’t involve other math knowledge? Someone who can’t subtract is functionally retarded in modern society and it’s not meaningful to invest outside remedial education
Not to mention that becoming proficient in algebra helps these kids realize they're not "bad at math" and hopeless (as you seem to think they are). It's easier to fill in knowledge gaps when you're looking backwards than forwards (speaking from my own experience with subjects I've struggled with).