Retired Electronic Engineer on Core Curriculum

Did the schools stop teaching numerals? Or maybe just the schools that 'educate' our politicians have ceased teaching numerals.

My undwestanding is that for the last 40 years, Public Schools, (and Charter schools by way of intimidation), must follow "Core Curriculum". My interpretation, which certainly biased, is that teachers are the good guys who must follow the top down curriculum. As a BSEE engineer, I believe teachers are very well taught how to teach but without designating their specialties such as Math and Science, they don't have a clue in most cases ass to what they are teaching - the few that do are held back from using their own way of teaching.

My desire in using this blog, is to provide how I would, (and have done during GED coaching and Technology in a Country Day school), is teaching what I have developed while tutoring my Great Grand children. The previous generation faced "I don't care what your grandfather says, you do it my way or don't get credit.

I have a first grader and a third grader. While they are taught about numerals, I am appalled that they are allowed, even encouraged to count on their fingers.

The first grader even tries to use a calculator, because he's having trouble with addition and subtraction.

But, they do learn about numbers.

The requirement that the students be capable of writing, not printing, is going away, soon, if not already. Everybody has PCs and pritnters anyway.

We need to get back to the basics, first, then worry about higher education.

"The first grader even tries to use a calculator, because he's having trouble with addition and subtraction."

Try and give him a dime and two nickels as an even trade for his quarter.

Quarter's bigger. It's gotta be worth more than those little coins.

Makes sense to me.

There are many points we agree on, but counting on fingers is not one. At my Student crossing this morning, many students and parents participated as: "What day is this? ok, one is Monday, two isTtuesday, three is Wednesday and four is Thursday and today is Friday. On friday we open the Thumb along with the four finges and now we have five digits up. by droping the four fingers, we have just the thumb up - thumbs up! Today is a half day, another thumbs up and to make it special we are half way thru March - another thumbs up! The school recognizes that as a crossing guard, Mr. Larry is the 1st person to represent the school and sets the students attitude for the day. She also recognizes I am presenting concepts not taught in the present "Core Curriculum". She has said, "I can't stop you - I don't know I would if I could". The world need more Sharons!

Mr. Larry at LARRYH2L@COX.NET

Larry,

We have a failure to communicate.

You said, to my post #2, "There are many points we agree on, but counting on fingers is not one".

I allow it only because it is too late to change the entire math program, and his big brother, my 3rd grader, has grasped the concepts and no longer needs to use anything except his mind. He's a "Math Master" at his school, now.

There's still hope.

You are Lucky he is in the school he is! At the school We Cross at, rather than being challenged as a Gifted Student, he would be assigned to a student who is not "getting it",

Numerals in elementary school? How about the fact that there is a proper sequence in counting off those numerals?

Maybe the guy who made this clock was absent that day:

Well, it's right 83% of the time. That's plenty good enough to get a job at Gizmodo.