[Fwd: Re: Math doubts]
Joel Hawthorne
I thought it worthy of reposting. So now that we all have it in
quintuplicate another round of applause for Pam please.
--
best wishes
Joel
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http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
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From: "Pam Hartley" <pamhartley@...>
----------
really well and I can quickly and efficiently add and subtract even large
numbers in my head. I loathe and fear higher math, and have since I flunked
Algebra. I have spent my life in three main careers -- dog trainer (not a
lot of advanced math required), bookseller (ditto) and... accountant. I was
a fine accountant. :) Worked my way up from Accounts Payable clerk to Cost
Accountant and never had to think about "higher math".
Now, take my husband (please! Da da dum! <g>). He can do no basic math
calculations in his head. He does not know his multiplication tables. He
uses a calculator to add 10 + 12, okay? But he's *really* good at advanced
math. He plays math games with his father (computer programmer) and they
think up math puzzles to challenge each other that make my teeth fall asleep
(the last one involved the calculation of the diameter of a roll of toilet
paper given some incredibly obscure variables that I can't even remember,
much less calculate). My husband is a Chief Estimator for a multi-million
dollar construction company and his JOB is to develop forumulas for
calculating such simple things as the cost of esoteric non-standard-sized
tiles and shelves in circular non-level rooms south of the Equator.
10 + 12, however, still eludes him.
You don't "need" constant reiteration for basic facts, math or otherwise. I
learned my basic math facts in the wink of an eye because I found them
useful and enjoyable. My husband, drilled like most of us for 12 full years,
still does not know them because he did *not* find them useful and
enjoyable. He uses his calculator for those and goes on to what he *does*
find useful and enjoyable. He also did not need "book time" to learn higher
math, just the interest to do so. Sure, many people who are interested in
higher math *do* sit down with books (Wally, though it is incomprehensible
to me <g>, wants to buy a bunch of math computer CDs and do the "book
learning" that he never did in school. He's 43. This woman's teenage son has
years yet.)
Math gets a bad rap. So many of us buy into the "it's hard" or "it has to be
repeated daily" or "it must be taught in certain steps" that shaking free of
that can be a real feat.
Math is no harder than training a dog.
Math is no more useful than knowing how to sew a straight seam.
Math does not require slavish, daily repetition to master basic concepts.
The surest way to kill a child's (or adult's) interest in something is to
force it. Your friend obviously wishes her son were more interested in and
skilled in math, but if he's not, he's not, and there is nothing holding him
back but himself. He can sit down tomorrow with a stack of math books and
provided he has the real interest, he can learn it. He could have been
drilled at the kitchen table daily for 10 years and if he found it
mind-numbing and boring and not pertinent to his life, he'd be like my
husband.
We have until we die to learn 10 + 12, and if we die and we still haven't
learned it, obviously we didn't need it after all. :)
Pam
Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
quintuplicate another round of applause for Pam please.
--
best wishes
Joel
For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
From: "Pam Hartley" <pamhartley@...>
----------
>From: [email protected]I am a whiz at basic math calculations. I know my multiplication tables
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 304
>Date: Fri, Nov 19, 1999, 3:35 PM
>
>OR do I agree with my friend, who, if she had to do it over again with her
>unschooled son, said she would definitely have unschooled everything EXCEPT
>math because it's something you need constant reiteration on for basic facts,
>and there are many advanced principles (geometry, fractions, algebra, etc.)
>that need "book time," where you sit down and teach them math just about once
>every day....?
really well and I can quickly and efficiently add and subtract even large
numbers in my head. I loathe and fear higher math, and have since I flunked
Algebra. I have spent my life in three main careers -- dog trainer (not a
lot of advanced math required), bookseller (ditto) and... accountant. I was
a fine accountant. :) Worked my way up from Accounts Payable clerk to Cost
Accountant and never had to think about "higher math".
Now, take my husband (please! Da da dum! <g>). He can do no basic math
calculations in his head. He does not know his multiplication tables. He
uses a calculator to add 10 + 12, okay? But he's *really* good at advanced
math. He plays math games with his father (computer programmer) and they
think up math puzzles to challenge each other that make my teeth fall asleep
(the last one involved the calculation of the diameter of a roll of toilet
paper given some incredibly obscure variables that I can't even remember,
much less calculate). My husband is a Chief Estimator for a multi-million
dollar construction company and his JOB is to develop forumulas for
calculating such simple things as the cost of esoteric non-standard-sized
tiles and shelves in circular non-level rooms south of the Equator.
10 + 12, however, still eludes him.
You don't "need" constant reiteration for basic facts, math or otherwise. I
learned my basic math facts in the wink of an eye because I found them
useful and enjoyable. My husband, drilled like most of us for 12 full years,
still does not know them because he did *not* find them useful and
enjoyable. He uses his calculator for those and goes on to what he *does*
find useful and enjoyable. He also did not need "book time" to learn higher
math, just the interest to do so. Sure, many people who are interested in
higher math *do* sit down with books (Wally, though it is incomprehensible
to me <g>, wants to buy a bunch of math computer CDs and do the "book
learning" that he never did in school. He's 43. This woman's teenage son has
years yet.)
Math gets a bad rap. So many of us buy into the "it's hard" or "it has to be
repeated daily" or "it must be taught in certain steps" that shaking free of
that can be a real feat.
Math is no harder than training a dog.
Math is no more useful than knowing how to sew a straight seam.
Math does not require slavish, daily repetition to master basic concepts.
The surest way to kill a child's (or adult's) interest in something is to
force it. Your friend obviously wishes her son were more interested in and
skilled in math, but if he's not, he's not, and there is nothing holding him
back but himself. He can sit down tomorrow with a stack of math books and
provided he has the real interest, he can learn it. He could have been
drilled at the kitchen table daily for 10 years and if he found it
mind-numbing and boring and not pertinent to his life, he'd be like my
husband.
We have until we die to learn 10 + 12, and if we die and we still haven't
learned it, obviously we didn't need it after all. :)
Pam
Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
Debra Bures
Thanks so much for reposting, Joel. and for writing it, Pam
Debra
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Hawthorne <jhawthorne@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 7:26 PM
Subject: [Fwd: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Math doubts]
Debra
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Hawthorne <jhawthorne@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 7:26 PM
Subject: [Fwd: [Unschooling-dotcom] Re: Math doubts]
>I thought it worthy of reposting. So now that we all have it in
>quintuplicate another round of applause for Pam please.
>
>--
>best wishes
>Joel
>
>For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
>
>http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
>
>All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
>Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
>
>
[email protected]
In a message dated 11/25/99 7:27:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,
jhawthorne@... writes:
<< another round of applause for Pam please. >>
YEAH PAM!!!
jhawthorne@... writes:
<< another round of applause for Pam please. >>
YEAH PAM!!!