The Word on Word Problems

a creative writing edition (#13)

This is paywalled, so housekeeping first.

This is the thirteenth edition of a creative writing feature for paid subscribers, who are also able to comment on this post (and most posts). If you would like a paid subscription but can’t afford it, send an email to hollymathnerd at gmail dot com and I’ll hook you up with a free year.

Context: since COVID started, I’ve offered free homeschool consulting. Mathematics turns out to be the reason many families who would otherwise be comfortable homeschooling choose not to do so—a commendable terror of not doing right by their kids. By providing help choosing resources and a solemn promise to step in and teach if they get stuck, I am now personally responsible for four local families deciding to start homeschooling. One of those families referred a friend to me, a teenage boy who simultaneously has severe dyslexia and genuine talent for mathematics. The parents asked me to help him because he was struggling to earn grades that reflected his ability. He understands the mathematical principles with ease, but struggles intensely with the aspects of mathematics that, particularly under Common Core, require reading and writing.

Links: I have written previously about my experiences with tutoring him and what I think about Common Core mathematics.

Trying on Dyslexic Glasses

I can never really know what it’s like inside Jack’s mind, of course.

But for what he’s doing now, I really, really have to try to see through his eyes.

Last quarter, Jack was doing rational functions.

This quarter, he’s studying basic statistics and probability. Why? Because one of the notions behind Common Core is the idea that students should learn math as an integrated whole, rather than spending a year on Algebra 1, a year on Geometry, a year on Algebra 2, etc. So they skip around—a lot.

I understand the thinking behind this plan, but I strongly disagree with it. I think it creates more problems than it solves, and that it causes students to miss out on crucial opportunities to solidify mathematical principles with repetition. They also miss out on making many connections, as they don’t ever really get a chance to appreciate the orderliness of closely related concepts building upon one another in quick succession.

My most recent session with Jack gives a powerful example of how much Common Core sucks.