Thanks for the update OP...I agree that this teacher has issues with listening and communication and probably is now very embarrassed!
I am the Mom in the original post. Thank you all very much for your comments and suggestions.
For those who are interested: we are in Missouri; that teacher used to teach first grade in another school, this is her first time to teach
fourth grade here; she told parents that she preferred email communications on Day one; the teacher knew that I am college professor
with a Ph.D in statistics; she never adimits her mistake to me or my son so far; I never question that "new" strategy, both my son and
I are very comfortable with those "new" methods as long as they are taught correctly; the fact that the teacher thinks that saving her
"face" is the most improtant thing once she figured out the correct answer disgusts me the most. If she admits that 653-29 = 624, and
would like to discuss with me what goes wrong, I would be more than happy to come over to help her.
Whether she had real problem understanding the foundation of the curriculum or she lacks the basic communication skills make her an
incompetent fourth grade teacher.
What will happen if my son also gave the expected answer "622"? I will never have the chance to figure all this out. ( I only check those
questions marked as wrong .)
What would the teacher respond to the first email if the parent is the principal, and the student is his daughter? Will she treat it seriously and
give it some thoughts? Will she continue to deny the error and double speak to create a "miscommunication" impression? How hard is it
for a fourth grader teacher to admit that 653-29 = 624 via email? She cannot write or what?
Anyway, we are planning to move to a better school district which is 80 miles away next year. This kind of weirdness makes me sick.
Thanks again for your comments.
Counting on your fingers and skip counting are not acceptable in my house after a certain age.
