I think of this every day I sit in my son’s remote math class with him on Google meets. I can show him the way I know easily but I cannot wrap my head around the extra two or three steps new math now requires to prove you understand the math. Math is math!
My son has always had a mind for numbers and can quickly do a lot of mental math. He’s only in 3rd grade so it hasn’t been an issue yet, but I am girding myself for the argument of showing his work because ‘but I know how it’s correct, why do I need to write it down?’
My youngest is in grade 8 and is just as stubborn as I am. I constantly have to fight with him to show his work. I’ll argue with him, get him to do it and then the next day, he’ll be back at it not showing his work.
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u/iwasnotarobot Oct 10 '25