The Book Nook

New Math vs. Old School Parents

Written by Katy Tierney

Most of us raising children right now grew up somewhere between the late 70s and late 90s, when school was a place where we went to memorize lessons. You know, when hanging out with our friends in the hallway or at the high school football game was our main priority, cliques most definitely a thing and landlines were our main form of communication. Back then, the world just seemed a little smaller and a little safer.

But just as the times have changed, so has learning and along with that was a major shift in curriculum to the common core standards. A big part of the common core curriculum that I see posted about all the time on my friends’ social media pages is none other than “new” math. But if we take a second to really stop and think about it, new math is actually a really great concept and teaches our students a great deal about mathematical understanding. As a fourth grade teacher, I see my students apply the concepts they learn in math to other subjects like science, reading and in everyday life.

The point of the common core standards was to help students better understand the WHY. When you and I were in school, we memorized, memorized and then memorized just a little bit more. Multiplication facts, math algorithms, long division, and so on. But can you say that you truly understand what all those algorithms are for, how they are used and where else they can be applied? Probably not. I wouldn’t be able to if it weren’t for the fact that I teach it everyday. I’m going to break down

the four major operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—and explain how the new math is really helping our students.

Addition and Subtraction:

These two operations are all about place value and number sense.

It’s understanding that when I subtract, I don’t borrow from the next place value. (I mean, are you ever giving it back?!) I’m exchanging. I’m exchanging one ten for ten ones, or one hundred for ten tens.

When we add, we give more to the place value to the left. It’s building the number up and making it bigger. So, every time we reach ten, another digit goes to the place value to the left.

I teach my students strategies and develop these skills from the concrete to the abstract. We start with numbers to 20 until we finally reach the millions in fifth grade. We start to recognize patterns and uniformity among numbers. We teach kids to strategically think about numbers and compose and decompose them. We build these concepts to focus on their function. Without a strong number sense, students ultimately struggle to apply mathematical concepts and reason to all the topics that follow.

Multiplication and Division:

The concept of multiplication begins in second grade when students start looking at patterns of repeated addition. This understanding leads us into the idea of multiplication and that multiplication is a number repeated numerous times. Of course, we want to teach students to be more efficient and multiplication is a great way to do that. We then start building their understanding of multiplication and division and how they work together. The foundational concepts of multiplication and division lead students to a better understanding of fractions, area, volume, surface area.

The idea is to master skills throughout each grade level so that students can build their knowledge and understanding of all operations. It’s not about the memorization in the beginning, it’s all about the understanding. HF

KATY TIERNEY is a third grade teacher at Estes Elementary in Owensboro. She and her husband, Daniel, have two daughters, Harper & Tilly. Her large, extended family and career always keep her on the move. She loves reading with her daughters and spending all the time she can with her family and friends.

The Book Nook

All of these books are available for check out at the Henderson County Public Library.

Kylie Jean Valentine Queen

By: Marci Peschke It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Kylie Jean is helping her family throw a surprise anniversary party for her grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. Between party planning and her school’s new Be Sweet project, there’s a lot happening, but Kylie Jean is still determined to be the valentine queen! From blueberries to beauty pageants, second grader Kylie Jean wants to be the queen of everything! But in her quest to be the best, this young southern belle learns a few lessons of her own. Mischievous, delightful, and fun, this series will be at the top of every young girl’s list!

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Valentine’s Day Secret

By: Carolyn Keene It’s Valentine’s Day, but things are not all hearts and flowers for Nancy! While she and her best friends, Bess and George, are making their own stuffed animals at Farmer Fran’s Barnyard Buddies, someone slips a mean valentine into Bess’ animal’s pocket. What’s worse than a mean valentine? Bess thinks it came from George! Now the two are in their worst fight ever - and Nancy’s caught in the middle! How can she sew Bess and George’s friendship - not to mention the Clue Crew - back together?

The Berenstain Bears Valentine’s Love Bug

By: Mike Berenstain Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Berenstain Bears in this exciting addition to this classic New York Times bestselling series. When Sister Bear is asked to be the flower girl at a Valentine’s Day wedding, she is over the moon with joy. But when she gets carried away with the dresses, flowers, and cake, things begin to go awry.

Foxy in Love

By: Emma Dodd Once again Foxy’s friend Emily needs his help, big-time! Emily is trying to make a Valentine’s Day card, and she needs Foxy to remind her of all the things that she loves most. From birthday cakes to gardens with rainbows, Foxy is able to make everything Emily loves magically appear--but sometimes he makes a mistake (Emily loves balloons, not raccoons!)

Luckily Foxy can always find a good solution when things go wrong . . . and he knows just the right way to make Emily’s Valentine’s Day card complete!

Little Blue Truck’s Valentine

By: Alice Schertle Join Little Blue Truck as he delivers Valentine’s Day cards to all his farm animal friends. But as Blue beeps along, he starts to wonder: will he get any cards of his own? HF

Out & About

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR HENDERSON FAMILIES

9 9

LOCAL THINGS TO DO this winter