Submitted by CARPE DIEM

Depending on your age, you might have learned basic grade school math calculations like 26 x 31 and 133 ÷ 6, using what is now called the “standard algorithm” (see the video). If the multiplication procedure below looks familiar, you learned math the “old fashioned” way, or according to what is now called the “Singapore method” or the “standard algorithm.” You also then probably learned “long division.”
 

If the “standard algorithm” above looks unfamiliar, you might have learned the new “reform math,” “everyday math,” “fuzzy math,” or “rainforest math,” and you might have been taught nitwitery like the “partial products multiplication” or “partial quotients division” (instead of “long division”), or the “lattice method.” Too bad. You didn’t learn math.

After watching the video above, I am furious to see how math is being taught today. If I was a parent, I would really, really be furious, and I would be Borders right now buying Singapore Math books. See previous CD posts on “rainforest math” here, here and here (”We don’t teach long division; it stifles creativity.”).

Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.