Category Archives: math

Posted on June 2, 2016 by ChrisA

Set Proof Stuns Mathematicians | Quanta Magazine   The fact that the cap set problem finally yielded to such a simple technique is humbling, Ellenberg said. “It makes you wonder what else is actually easy.”

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How long does it take to drive 80 miles…

Posted on March 19, 2012 by ChrisA

if you’re traveling at 80 miles per hour. Oh my….

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Math and Direct Instruction

Posted on October 15, 2011 by ChrisA

Darren over at Right on the Left Coast posts about his experience using “Discovery Math” techniques. I would be thrilled to have Darren as my daughters math intructor. Direct Instruction, BRING IT ON. I would really like to see how … Continue reading →

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More money for education won’t fix idiocy like this…

Posted on February 25, 2011 by ChrisA

I love the parents video comment “I was trying not to laugh”. That’s why my daughter(s) went to Kumon and why the younger one, despite being ill and missing a lot of school, aced the “pretest” for the next section … Continue reading →

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Math students…. Struggling?

Posted on June 30, 2010 by ChrisA

Math students, if you’re struggling with the “constructivist math” and want to actually learn how to use math, I suggest you visit the Kahn Academy. It has over 14,000 video’s on almost every math subject you can imagine from elementary … Continue reading →

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Cold Calling…

Posted on June 7, 2010 by ChrisA

This would be in math class… h/t to Betsy’s page.

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Math Wars: The Heat is On

Posted on February 21, 2010 by ChrisA

The dumbing down of math just continues. Scientific American has a report on the math wars… Numbers Wars: School Battles Heat Up Again in the Traditional versus Reform-Math Debate GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO?: Debate continues on the merits of … Continue reading →

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CSAP and opt out

Posted on December 16, 2009 by ChrisA

For readers outside of Colorado, CSAP stands for Colorado Student Assessment Program. My question…. I have heard of Parents opting their students out of CSAP. Is it possible to opt your student out of a single CSAP test but have … Continue reading →

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Discovery Math and number lines

Posted on December 8, 2009 by ChrisA

This is a challenge problem… You can use the number lines to solve Felix’s problem. Felix went to the mall to find the best price on blue jeans. At the first store, Blue Jeans Plus, the sale price is $19.95 … Continue reading →

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Report shows many freshmen from city HS fail at basic algebra

Posted on November 13, 2009 by ChrisA

If you think being unable to do basic algebra and mathematics is only a New York City problem you’re sadly mistaken. Basic algebra involving fractions and decimals stumped a group of City University of New York freshmen – suggesting city … Continue reading →

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21st century skills

Posted on October 16, 2009 by ChrisA

Another education FAD. You gotta teach the 3 R’s first. I couldn’t agree more with the conclusion… But we have ignored what matters most. We have neglected to teach them that one cannot think critically without quite a lot of … Continue reading →

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Denver Post: Solution for Schools

Posted on July 12, 2009 by ChrisA

I haven’t read the editorial that inspired this letter, but I’m in full agreement with the author. He begins… Ah yes. More hand-wringing over what to do about the train wreck called “public education.” Lots of rhetoric and zero results. … Continue reading →

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Trust the spiral

Posted on June 2, 2009 by ChrisA

We trusted the spiral too long with our first daughter and took the “never trust” avenue with the 2nd daughter. For our efforts, and not insignificant amount of money, our 2nd daughter will be taking geometry in 8th grade. I … Continue reading →

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Our teachers don’t know math

Posted on May 19, 2009 by ChrisA

Doesn’t surprise me a bit, based on my experience with the local school system. According to state education officials, nearly three-quarters of the people who took the state elementary school teacher’s licensing exam this year failed the new math section. … Continue reading →

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Fear of math

Posted on March 9, 2009 by ChrisA

You go girl. Danica McKellar explains how large a number 1 trillion is, as in the stimulus.

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Rounding errors

Posted on February 13, 2009 by ChrisA

These are the guys leading us out of the economic crisis?. And so on. Clearly, the White House is using the time-honored mathematical method of pulling numbers out of one’s rear end. They are so bad about it that no … Continue reading →

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Uneducated and unfit

Posted on February 13, 2009 by ChrisA

Joanne Jacobs reports on a Penn State accounting professor who states that todays students are “uneducated and unfit for a college education“. Color me not suprised at all. Commenting on math education, Professor Ketz states… To begin, today’s average accounting … Continue reading →

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Many things worth doing… ARE HARD!

Posted on January 28, 2009 by ChrisA

Many things worth doing are hard, requiring a great deal of practice before you achieve mastery. … and practice matters I’ve worked in other fields where practice really mattered. I hated to practice exercises on trumpet as a kid, but … Continue reading →

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Investigations Math

Posted on December 24, 2008 by ChrisA

From Kitchen Table Math (go there to get the link to the letter)… In a December 19, 2008 letter to the editor of the Frederick News Post, Steve Wilson, a math professor from Johns Hopkins University, issues a warning “not … Continue reading →

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Math is for nerds

Posted on October 11, 2008 by ChrisA

Joanne Jacobs reports on math being uncool. As the father of two girls I found this factoid disappointing although not surprising… Girls, especially, are likely to underplay their math interests to avoid being labeled a nerd. This isn’t surprising either… … Continue reading →

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