After completing my final core math concept course, I feel compelled to enlighten those opposing core curriculum, particularly math. There is an overwhelming number of individuals who feel core math is inefficient and tedious. While core math can be time consuming and frustrating, the overall purpose of core math is incredibly beneficial to students.
The purpose of core math is to build a strong understanding behind finding a solution to a problem rather than plugging numbers into a formula or completing a problem without understanding the purpose of its steps. Through using critical thinking in every math problem, students will learn to conceptually consider solutions to math problems rather than mindlessly following a math procedure that requires little thinking.
There is a misconception about core regarding the elimination of mechanisms such as the algorithm or other standard calculations. Students will still learn the algorithm as well as other formulas, but through core math, students are introduced to the discussed math concepts earlier in elementary school. Due to the students' understanding of each concept based on the core method, transferring from the "core way" to the "old way" takes significantly less time to teach. For example, first graders can be introduced to finding the mean of a number set using a core method known as leveling. Students are given a number set represented in blocks, the students are asked to "level" each stack of blocks, after each stack consists of the same amount of blocks, the student can identify the mean. When students enter fourth grade, they will easily transition into adding the number set and dividing by the amount of numbers within the set.
I recently taught a fifth grade class a lesson on using the algorithm to multiply three digit numbers. It was easy for the students to understand as they already knew how to carry, understood place value, and did not need an explanation as to why they had to place a zero underneath the first set of numbers. The reason students naturally grasped multiplication using the algorithm was due to their initial introduction to multiplication, addition, and subtraction using the chip model which includes moving chips from place value based on the math problem.
Despite your stance, It is crucial that teachers and parents resist speaking negatively of core. It can be a frustrating system to those who do not understand the approach or do not agree with the system. However, the negative discussions are adopted by children who begin to question their education, refuse to learn the material, and possibly become confused as two different individuals are teaching them alternate strategies.
Core math creates an effective and efficient approach to learning and teaching math. Before disagreeing with core math, consider learning the various math methods included in the curriculum, the purpose of the mechanisms, and the overall benefits.
Below I have included a link from Education Week that discusses the core curriculum:
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