tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post1365593379803966372..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: The "How" Is Rooted In The "Why"Darrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-36345973669109724242015-01-26T16:43:38.301-08:002015-01-26T16:43:38.301-08:00It was a very good article. And I have always foun...It was a very good article. And I have always found that understanding the principles allows you to derive what you need, rather than to lug around a whole bag of formulas. I try to pass that on to the students I work with as well. Still, as with arithmetic, if you understand it and have internalized those formulas it frees your mind and gives you time for other tasks.PeggyUnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-75147129367780685472015-01-25T17:48:26.942-08:002015-01-25T17:48:26.942-08:00This is one of the reasons why common core bugs me...This is one of the reasons why common core bugs me sooooo much. The premise seems to be on teaching the 'why,' which I believe we both agree is a good thing … but a) before Common Core, any good teacher was already doing this -- slope is a good example, but I would go further … introduce delta x/delta y terminology. It gives the same understanding, and allows for a more smooth transition to calculus. It also eliminates that stupid slope formula, with it's overly complicated way of doing things … and which textbooks can't even agree with the order (since it doesn't matter). Try telling that to your child, who has been told to always use the formula, but can't tell which point should go first; and b) Common Core, at least for math, from what I've seen -- attempts to promote understanding through even more complicated disconnected algorithms. As to the arts? If you're teaching memorization as opposed, primarily to analysis, you really aren't doing your job.maxutilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294262473781967372noreply@blogger.com