The noise over the newest new math (new-new math, Constructivist Math, Whole Math, Fuzzy Math) is getting louder. (I strongly suggest you get a free subscription to the New York Times to read this fascinating article.) This method encourages students to estimate their answers, among other things. So instead of showing them how to add 473 and 281, they are encouraged to add "friendlier numbers" like 500 and 300. Now I don't know about you, but I don't think 800 and 754 are even close. Wonder what my bank would do if I tried to use the "friendlier" number 2000.00 instead of the 1641.53 that was my deposit... can you say "boing?"

This method was created in an attempt to reach those students who don't understand the traditional methods (you know, the correct one?).. since when do we teach to the lowest common denominator? Oh wait, don't answer that... how about.. Why do we punish the kids who can understand the correct way by teaching them the wrong way? My son trying to do this work was extremely upset to have his work marked wrong when he had the right answers.. what he didn't do was "estimate" them. Teach the traditional methods ('Rithmetic is one of the three R's, remember?) and use that to identify the students who need more instruction and then give it to them.. oh wait, the teachers would have to be able to give that sort of attention. Too many teachers now are shackled by a system that rates their performance based on the entire class' performance (but we'll save my thorough TAAS rant for another day)... never mind that many of them are the product of the last "new math" movement in the 60s and 70s. Math is, by definition, an exercise in precision. Without precision, Math is meaningless.

This all comes out of trying to apply the Constructivist Learning Theory to mathematics. In essence, they are trying to teach to students the thought process that led the great historical Mathematical minds to the conclusions we accept as fact today.

I am a husband, father, and programmer. My wife and I run a computer consulting company with a number of web sites.. you've probably seen their buttons at the tops of the side columns. Before meeting my bride in the late 80s on an old chat system, I was a military brat and lived in a magical place known as Okinawa.

It is a tale told by an idiot.. full of sound and fury.. signifying nothing.