How To Teach Math?

Over at Joanne's blog are two posts about teaching math.  First:

There's no evidence that "trauma-deformed pedagogy" (oops, "informed") helps students learn more, writes Max Eden, an American Enterprise Institute fellow, on Real Clear Education. Yet it's cited in support of California's controversial new math guidelines, which are full of dubious claims. 

"Trauma informed" means educators take into account the fact that some students have led very difficult lives. But how does that affect teaching math...

The study includes no evidence students learned any math -- or that they "healed," writes Eden.

The examples cited would be a good social studies exercise, but they're crappy math.  Let's continue:

Under the California framework, math teachers are supposed to train students to be change agents, writes Bill Evers of the Independent Institute. "The teacher is supposed to highlight 'connections' between math and 'environmental and social justice,'" perhaps by writing an “opinion piece” or “explanatory text.”

As the previous post explains, research shows that's not an effective way to teach math. We don't want kids to learn math, don't we?

If they can't give you good government, they'll give you "woke" government.  If they can't give you good education, they'll give you "woke" education.

An excerpt from the second post:

"Students who spent more time in class solving practice problems on their own and taking quizzes and tests tended to have higher scores in math," the study found. In English, "teachers who allocated more class time to discussions and group work ended up with higher scorers in that subject."

Teachers in both subjects spent little time lecturing. 

Lifting weights is how you get stronger.  Writing is how you become a better writer.  Speaking a language is how you become better at a foreign language.  Playing an instrument is how you get better at playing an instrument.  It's funny that only in math do we throw such principles out, and we do it in the name of a "social justice" that accomplishes exactly the opposite of what its proponents claim they want.