Comments on: Everyday Math Makes Me Want to SCREAM

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Tue, 19 May 2015 13:49:12 +0000

In reply to Margi Stoops. thanks for sharing your experience, Margi. :)

By: Margi Stoops

Margi Stoops — Mon, 11 May 2015 01:30:10 +0000

I’ve taught Everyday Math for 17 YEARS and have never seen the algorithm you have shown (above) for subtraction. I think the program is wonderful! My students have always excelled and LOVE math! The teacher is KEY! If you don’t know how to teach it-DON’T! My students love it and our school math scores are incredible each and every year. I’ve never had a student frustrated (parents-yes. but once I explain it to them they understand the reasoning). The only thing it lacks is memorization of facts which students need. I supplement this, and my students shine!

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:07:00 +0000

In reply to Mr. Incredible. okay, thanks for clarifying.

By: Mr. Incredible

Mr. Incredible — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 21:39:00 +0000

In reply to Melissa Taylor. Maybe you are right. I shouldn't have said ALL. I was wrong for saying that. It is all about how you smoothly transition from strategy to strategy. We teach base ten so that children can see and visualize what they are doing to UNDERSTAND mathematics and not just DO math. After a while, those strategies can be gradually taken away. That's all I was saying.

By: Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 16:40:00 +0000

In reply to Mr. Incredible. I don't believe it's an accurate generalization that all teachers don't understand it but instead would reassert that the program is faulty.

By: Mr. Incredible

Mr. Incredible — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 16:06:00 +0000

I think the issue is that the TEACHERS don’t understand it themselves. Its not Everyday Math that is the problem. Most teachers hate teaching math because they don’t understand it themselves. If they don’t understand it, it is going to trickle down on their students. The method, as associated with the problem above, helps children understand HOW 528-263=265. We have to move from DOING math to UNDERSTANDING math!!! Just teaching children to “carry” isn’t teaching them WHY! Teaching them through place values, expanded form, manipulatives, etc. helps them see HOW the numbers correlate. The teacher should understood why s/he’s teaching that strategy herself (or himself). Its a sad case, but its the reality of it all.

By: Bentley Cai

Bentley Cai — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 03:34:00 +0000

Our child was with Kumon for a year and although we thought that it was quite expensive, we heard it was a pretty decent learning center for children, so we’ve decided to give it a try. Seeing that there was not much change in her math skills, we decided to search for another program that would better benefit us the most. We’ve come to conclusion that Beestar would be a greater alternative to Kumon. I believe that Beestar is a great program in helping children improve in math and other school subjects rather than Kumon. Beestar offers free online math and other subjects such as social sciences and English related subjects as well. This past year, we have seen significant changes in her math solving skills and English as well. We are very satisfied with the results we see with the online management provided. Beestar is definitely a keeper, so why bother staying with Kumon nor search for other programs?!

By: mandi@herbanhomestead

mandi@herbanhomestead — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:23:00 +0000

Oh mama. I’m sorry! What a hard experience for everyone involved. We use Singapore math here at home and we really like it. I feel like it is a good, solid math program. If you’d like something fun to do with the kids, Life of Fred is my kid’s absolute favorite! We are actually taking a break from Singapore right now and using LoF. It’s so fun!