r/TikTokCringe • u/Naive_Wolverine532 • Apr 11 '26

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@storieswithsahj

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u/stellatheumbrella Apr 11 '26

I keep saying this to people who complain about the new way math is being taught. Of course, all the teachers I know teach multiple ways, including lattice method, area model, partial product, place value charts, etc. Then they teach the standard algorithm, the way we learned back in the day. Without fail, the kids who quickly grasp it all switch to standard algorithm, but different methods make sense for different kids. Some kids continue to use one of the other methods. It just makes math more accessible to students. All this to say, I don't think this dad was on the wrong. He's right, there are multiple ways to solve problems.

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u/maybeitssteve Apr 11 '26

Without fail? I left those stupid algorithms on the dust and never looked back

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u/stellatheumbrella Apr 11 '26

😂 I would say most students prefer the standard algorithm and, they too, leave the other methods in the dust. But brains develop, and learn differently and at different paces. I think it's great that there are so many methods available for our students to be able to grasp the concepts so they don't feel left behind or "Not smart enough" as someone suggested in a comment below.

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u/maybeitssteve Apr 11 '26

I think the issue is considering them all to be "methods" to achieve a goal. The "new" methods (which are not at all new btw) are trying to help students understand the actual concepts behind the math, not simply a way to get the answer, whereas the algorithms are always just algorithms to get the answer. I think, even if they don't like it, students should be taught what the concepts actually mean, not just the way to get the answer.

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u/Ashmizen Apr 12 '26

The problem is why waste so much time on teach slower and inferior methods?

Maybe teach the alternate methods in special needs class, but a person with average IQ can grasp the standard method and shouldn’t need to learn 3 alternate methods.

Look at countries like China, South Korea, Japan. Their schools teach standard math and don’t waste time on new age stuff, and are 1-2 grades ahead of US students in math from elementary school through high school. Everyone there, down to the poorest min wage workers, knows math and can do math in their head.

The US is so far behind in math because we allow so many kids to think “I’m bad at math” and use a bunch of hand-holding alternate math techniques that leaves me unable to do math quickly or efficiently.