Wordless Wednesday

Fall is here

So, I was told that fall arrived today at 5am.  Well, for me, it started yesterday.  I had to rake a section of my yard yesterday.  I don't look forward to fall for one reason only, the raking.  I know that raking is great for you, an easy to burn hundreds of calories while feeling that you are doing something productive.  But it is so frustrating.  It seems like I will spend about half an hour every other day or so and it seems like as soon as I am finished, a big gust of wind comes and knocks off another thousand leaves.  It is sort of like God is making sure that I know who is in control.

Don't get me started on this one either.  I have to switch the kids' closets out.  Hours of work just to reorganize all those clothes.  And it seems like as soon as it is done, the temperatures jump 20* and everything the kids have is too warm.  Why?

Don't get me wrong, I do love fall.  I love the hikes and the throwing leaves at the kids.  But I prefer the puddle jumping days of summer.

How much math do we need?

Every Monday morning, I go in to the kids' school and help out with Math.  Math is my thing and I have been tutoring it since I was in middle school, so when the teacher asked, I accepted the challenge.  These boys are in upper elementary school and I figured it would not be too bad helping them out.  Boy, was I in for a surprise.

The first day I worked with them, we started going over their homework to see where I should work with them. The teacher gave me a list of items that they needed help with, but I needed to give them a feel myself.  I was very surprised.  One could not write a number you gave to him and the other was having problems with two digit addition and lining the numbers up right.  Then the next time, the one having problems with addition could multiply.  We play "Shoots and Ladders" to finish up time together and I can change the rules some to add some more math to it.

But, leaving on Monday, I wondered how much math do we really need to teach the average child.  I know several of the teens at my church at St. E's are taking Calculus this year.  What is the purpose?  Sure, it looks good on a high school transcript, but will they use it when they have a career.  How much math does the average person use in a day?  Some adding and subtracting is used when working with a check book.  Other then that, what else?

That is a big problem with math education is that "the big picture" is not taught.  What do you think the purpose of math education is?

Welcome!

So, I have thought about doing this for a while and I am jumping in.  I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!  I am learning while I am doing this.