I remember trying to work with our son on his math homework when he had a question. I would show him several (logical, straightforward) ways to complete a problem and he would tell me they would get in trouble if they used ANY of those approaches. THEY HAD TO USE ONLY THE COMMON CORE APPROACH, which was convoluted, nonsensical and seemed to be deliberately trying to obfuscate not only the actual correct answer, but how to do the problem.
I just couldn't understand why the teachers were making things so difficult for students...and then the truth about Common Core finally started coming out a few years later.
We got around my son's confusion by teaching him the (logical, straightforward) ways to solve the problems to make sure he had to correct answers, then he would go back and write out the ridiculous Common Core approach.
Imagine all those students who, for whatever reason, did not have an adult in their lives who could do this with them. They were, and still are, at the mercy of the education system with no outside backup.
I remember trying to work with our son on his math homework when he had a question. I would show him several (logical, straightforward) ways to complete a problem and he would tell me they would get in trouble if they used ANY of those approaches. THEY HAD TO USE ONLY THE COMMON CORE APPROACH, which was convoluted, nonsensical and seemed to be deliberately trying to obfuscate not only the actual correct answer, but how to do the problem.
I just couldn't understand why the teachers were making things so difficult for students...and then the truth about Common Core finally started coming out a few years later.
We got around my son's confusion by teaching him the (logical, straightforward) ways to solve the problems to make sure he had to correct answers, then he would go back and write out the ridiculous Common Core approach.
Imagine all those students who, for whatever reason, did not have an adult in their lives who could do this with them. They were, and still are, at the mercy of the education system with no outside backup.
It's sad.