2nd grade....algebra????

[2TxAgs]

My 2nd grader came home with the following math problem:

Brian has 14 pets. All are dogs and cats. He has 4 more cats than dogs. How many dogs does Brian have?



WOW....my kid didn't get it right (and he's a 'math whiz'), not sure if any kids did.

(Note, we are doing problems worded a bit more simply, like: Brian has 3 dogs. John has 4 dogs more than Brian, how many dogs does John have?)

Are your kids doing this kind of problem in 2nd grade?

 

[jamsmom]

Yes, my son was doing them in 2nd grade. You should see what he has in 7th. It is getting a lot harder a lot earlier than when we were younger.

 

[SoonerKate]

I remember doing problems like that in second grade, but it was always part of the "challenge" and for extra credit.

My sister says that her son has been doing problems like that -- he's in 3rd grade.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

Yep - my 2nd grader gets them with his homework - I feraing what DD gets whenshe gets into Middle School next year!

They should offer 'homework for parents' courses!

 

[2TxAgs]

So you/your kids were doing problems with 2 variables in 2nd grade?? Yikes....I sure don't remember that from my elementary years!!!! (And I was in 'advanced math'!)

 

[janette]

They may be teaching quess & check. Not really expecting algebra but trying to get them to think of a logical answer and check to see if it works. My girls have had some of this and it was different than anything I remember being taught.

My oldest is in 5th grade and there is no way I try to help with math, I was good at it in school but remember so little. She'll be in pre-ap math next year so I'm sure I will be no help. I can start having her help her sister though

 

[kiddo]

my daughter is now in 5th grade and she has been doing these types of problems since 1st grade.... which makes it really hard on me to help her because i really really STINK at math...

 

[laceemouse]

This kind of stuff really confuses me! You see, we are constantly hearing how public schools in the US are going down the tubes, dumbing down, kids can't read, etc. BUT, all of the parents I know say their kids are doing much harder work in school than they ever did! I just don't get it. We have had our kids in three different school districts and it is always the same. Yes, all of mine did that stuff in second grade. My oldest is in honors math in sixth grade and no way could I help her. Even in science, they are now doing the periodic table of the elements! I never did that until high school. I can't wait to see what they do teach in high school, probably harder stuff than I did in college! I guess maybe the "average" school does not teach at these levels, which is really sad, I mean, is the gulf between inner city and suburban schools that wide? This is a fascinating topic to me! Any teachers out there who could offer some insight?

 

[browneyes]

My ds does Algebra in the 1st grade.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My son's history teacher has been teaching things that I learned in World Civ. in College.

His science teacher is teaching things that I learned in 10 grade.

Same with math. Most of the students will take the SAT next fall.

My son is in the 6th grade. We live and he attends school in the inner city.

The standards at his school are very high. Everyone is expected to do well. If the students want to remain in this school they MUST do the work. The staff goes above and beyond what is required.

 

[Colleen A.]

It's only gonna get worse! I have a child in 3rd, 6th and 7th. The 'basic' math my 3rd grader gets (currently, decimels), I'm ok with. I hate those word problems that ALWAYS seem to appear at the bottom of her homework worksheets! When my older 2 ask me to help them with something, my FIRST question is "Did you bring home your text book?" Before I can help them, I have to learn the stuff myself!! My son, in 7th, is doing things I NEVER learned in Alegebra I or II!!!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Please consider yourselves lucky that the standards are high where you are.

We live in a rural community where the standards and expectations are so low that there is no challenge for the vast majority of the kids. For those that want to get out of the area, attend a good school, etc.... they must find a way to do more than what is asked. When homework is sent home most of the parents throw a fit and complain that the kids don't have time to be kids. ?!?!?! Yes, there is a limit.... I agree. But what parents want around here is NO homework EVER.

I teach my DS's math... the seventh grader is doing Saxon Advanced Math (high 11th grade text) and the fifth grader is doing Algebra 1. Oldest DS will have the credits for graduation when he finishes his sophomore year. Younger DS probably sooner.

 

[ghcoughlin]

We have been battling the math woes for 4 years now.Our school is teaching "The Chicago Method"It is for the birds.They do not do any memorization.The majority of kids don't know their times tables.One day they are doing measurements,the next geometry,then back to touch on multiplcation.Then to division etc etc.They never stay on any topic more then a week.Not one parent agrees with this method.The majority of teachers I spoke with feel the kids don't have a chance to absorb what they are being taught.This is taught starting in 1st grade they call it "spiralling"The theory is if the child doesn't get it the first time around then maybe they will the 2nd,3rd time.Then you hear parents in of 5th and 6th graders yelling their kids don't know the BASICS.Hmm I wonder why.
With our DS in 1st grade he is adaptong better.His teacher is of the"old school"and is setting aside time each day to memorize.We see a little difference.
So my summer schedule will include daily memorization of times tables
Whew thanks for letting me vent
Heidi
PS the private high school I work at (manage food service)The math teacher is constantly tutoring basic math classes for kids who had the "Chicago Method"

 

[Colleen A.]

When my older 2 were learning the times tables, the school was trying to teach the kids to "visualize" the problem in order to solve it. They did not want the kids to learn simply by memorization. My youngest did the times tables this year....they are back to the memorization technique! I can see my older 2, when they come across a multipulication problem having to stop and think about the answer. My youngest can usually get it faster. I can see in the more advanced math teaching the kids to "visualize" the problem, but when it comes to teaching the fundamentals, there is nothing wrong with the old method.

Don't even get me started on that "whole language" method of teaching kids to read!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

This is a topic that always fascinates me also.

I absolutely agree that the schools now have a tendency to push higher math onto the lower grade levels while skipping the basics. Our school also uses the University of Chicago Math method ..... memorization of math facts is expected to be taught by the parents, they don't work on it at school at all. My oldest son is in 7th grade and I work with him on a nightly basis on Algebra that I didn't face until High School, and also volunteer in our after school Math Lab where I help other students.

I was in a meeting the other day where a teacher was giving the "uninvolved parents" lament and it really got me thinking.

When I was in Elementary school ... the involvement expected of my parents was to provide me with a suitable place to do my homework, to check and make sure my homework was reguarly completed, and to attend Teacher/Parent conferences to keep themselves informed of my progress. Never were they expected to teach on a nightly basis the way that I do with my kids and frankly they would have refused to do it.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about all this. I think it depends on my current level of exhaustion and frustration.

 

[laceemouse]

Oops! Guess I should have said urban/suburban VS rural! So sorry, did not mean to offend anyone! Interesting topic to say the least. Don't get me started on that Chicago math! Our previous school did that and it is for the birds! Our school here calls it something different but it is similar. They do not really teach anything, just expect the kids to figure things out! Very frustrating when you need a formula to do a math problem and have to work hours on one problem! My DD12 says "they really try hard here to make kids HATE math!" Is that the intention!!!

 

[damo]

The method expected to solve the problem is most likely guess and check. As an intermediate and high school math teacher I think it is super that they are introducing word problems in the primary grades. So many people are absolutely terrified of word problems and can't actually think through them logically but just go blank. Introducing problems at this young age will hopefully take away some of the fear and teach children that problems can be solved in many ways.

As to rote learning vs. visualization, everyone learns differently and usually a mixture of techniques works best. I definately remember my parents doing flash cards with me at home and I used many techniques with my own kids. It sure makes a difference when parents help out with the basics at home. There are many computer programs that will also help with the rote learning if the parents aren't so inclined.

Many teachers also give "problems of the week" to be done with their families, trying to get parents more involved with school.

 

[SoonerKate]

Don't even get me started on that "whole language" method of teaching kids to read!

Actually, my mom taught me to read using whole language, and I was reading by the time I was 2. So maybe it's not all bad for everyone...

 

[Pin Wizard]

Our pre-algebra 2 class had trouble with a word problem today. Made our professor laugh. He says the word problems get us every time. They certainly are starting them younger and younger. DS's Godmother said her daughter was doing in 7th grade what she did in high school! Let's add a little more stress to their lives.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by 2TxAgs
So you/your kids were doing problems with 2 variables in 2nd grade?? Yikes....I sure don't remember that from my elementary years!!!! (And I was in 'advanced math'!)

DS had homework the other night with variables. He's in 4th grade. I remember word problems when I was in elementary school. I also got D's in math!