In my third grade class I was math stupid. After I got sprung after three months from the machinations of my second grade teacher, I was placed in a regular classroom. I went from practicing writing my name and coloring number shapes to being expected to tell time and multiply.

I didn't know how.  There was no time for my overworked teacher with 35 kids in her class to tutor me. It was sink or swim. I sank. I wanted to, I didn't necessarily hate math but over time I learned not to open my mouth. In hindsight, many of my classmates for their own reasons became equally as silent.

It was our fault for not being able to learn by rote or intimidation. We had no right to speak or ask questions. Our humiliation came complete when we stepped up to the chalkboard and got razzed by the teacher for not doing the problem correctly. It didn't matter old math, new math we could not perform to specifications.

Fortunately, in high school I had two excellent math teachers that erased much of the crap that was imprinted on me at the elementary and junior high school level.

My Best Revenge - Teaching

Many years later I was teaching women how to write Microsoft Excel formulas Yes, they had math anxiety. I found that if I introduce the concept, relate it to current interest/needs and then show the techniques how to get the answer (and provide reference worksheets that show both methods) my students were jazzed.

For background information on “Math Wars” you can read Math Wars, a Wikipedia article,  Alan Schoenfield''s article, or this column from the Association from Women in Mathematics.

Teach the Skill - The Understanding Will Come Later

This is a video featuring M.J. McDermott that supports the idea that kids should be taught the traditional methods for learning arithmetic/basic math skills. It was created for parents in Washington State but other school districts are facing the same dilemma.

It is a 15 minute video. One thing to keep in mind is that the "conceptual" methods demonstrated are taken out of the educational context that would be explained in class. There is lots of discussion about this in Washington State – check out Beth Bakeman’s post on the topic.

Math Without Tears is a blog that is against “Fuzzy Math” that is in some of the classrooms. Concerned Teacher does make good points. You can use real world examples to convey traditional math concepts. She also has issues about textbook publishers who may not be the most objective folks to turn to when it comes to providing materials for school systems.  C at When Is My Turn is a former math teacher who was in the trenches trying to educate students who were not at grade level in her middle school classes.

Over at La Dolce Vita Academy there is a another vote for teaching the skills before the abstract.

Teach the Concept and the Skill Sticks Like Glue

Julie Brennan is a home school parent at the helm of the Living Math web site where the focus is on finding alternatives to rote math instruction.

MathMom has a lengthy post on her perspective of the Math Wars and there is frustration and passion with each persons comment.

Over at MathNotations is an interview with Professor Steen who seems to be on the conceptual side of the fence. Definitely read the comments and watch sparks fly as supporters/detractors make like The Hatfields and The McCoys.

I guess hanging out with PatB - it is a mixture of approaches so long as the kid masters the task before being promoted to the next grade.

Danica McKellar and More Resources

Most of the kids coming up will not know that Danica was an actress on a TV show called Wonder Years.  What is important is that Mathematician Danica McKellar has written a new book Kiss My Math to help young girls to deal with math and how to gain power over the fear. This follows her other successful book, Math Doesn’t Suck. Check out the Extras page where she has links to on-line Math help.

Ms. Newburn Math and Science Blog has video instruct on arithmetic and math based topics as well as Science.

If you are an adult who want to improve your mathematic skills (not the same as Arithmetic) you should visit Mathematics Illuminated. There are downloadable guides, interactive examples and mathematical glossary. 

You’d thinks quality math education would be a no-brainier idea but in American classrooms the Math Wars is 40+ year battle that shows no sign of ending.  The good thing is that everyone wants the best math education for the kids.

The bad thing is that there is no consensus on the effective way to deliver that instruction across the nation with the current infrastructure. The worse thing is that kids are continuing to be mathematically disenfranchised.

CE Gena Haskett still uses her fingers decimally at Out On The Stoop and PCCLibTech