re: Common core prolly didn’t help with homegrown engineers.

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My kids likely won't be the best at giving out change, as there's almost no reason for that to be a skill for them

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Yes. Clerk a Pet Smart short changed me. When i questioned her she began drawing circles and squares. She had to call the manager and they used a hand held calculator to correct the situation..

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Neanderthal take on math education, as is the notion that memorizing what 12 x 11 is will help anyone do engineering.

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amazing to have a total bill of 27.82 at a fast food and you hand the lady 32.82 and she’s frozen stuff on why you handed her that amount

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Common Core Math is a teaching framework that emphasizes conceptual understanding, problem-solving, and the ability to apply mathematical reasoning in real-world contexts. It was introduced as part of the **Common Core State Standards** (CCSS), adopted by many U.S. states to create a consistent and rigorous approach to math education.

### Key Features of Common Core Math:
1. **Focus on Understanding:** It emphasizes why math works, not just how to perform operations. Students explore multiple methods to solve problems and understand the relationships between numbers.
2. **Problem-Solving:** Students are encouraged to apply math to real-world scenarios, fostering deeper thinking and adaptability.
3. **Multiple Strategies:** Instead of relying on one method (e.g., traditional algorithms), Common Core promotes exploring different ways to approach and solve problems.
4. **Step-by-Step Progression:** Skills build upon one another more systematically, with an emphasis on mastering foundational concepts before moving on to more complex topics.

### How It Differs from Traditional Math:
1. **Algorithms vs. Conceptual Understanding:**
- Traditional math often teaches one standard algorithm for operations (e.g., long division).
- Common Core math allows students to explore alternative methods (e.g., breaking numbers apart, using arrays) before introducing standard algorithms.

2. **Visual Representations:**
- Common Core heavily incorporates visual tools like number lines, area models, and bar diagrams to help students visualize and conceptualize problems.
- Traditional math relies less on visual aids and focuses more on procedural calculations.

3. **Emphasis on Explanation:**
- Students must explain their reasoning in Common Core math, demonstrating understanding beyond arriving at the correct answer.
- Traditional math prioritizes getting the correct answer, often without requiring detailed explanations.

4. **Real-World Application:**
- Common Core includes more word problems and tasks that mimic real-life situations.
- Traditional math tends to separate theoretical problems from practical applications.

5. **Flexibility in Methods:**
- Common Core encourages multiple strategies, promoting creativity and individual learning styles.
- Traditional math typically teaches one "correct" method.

### Example: Adding 27 + 46
- **Traditional Math:** Stack the numbers vertically and use column addition.
- **Common Core Math:**
- Decompose numbers: (27 + 40) + 6 = 67 + 6 = 73.
- Use a number line to "jump" from 27 to 73.
- Explain the thought process behind the steps.

### Challenges and Criticisms:
- **Parental Frustration:** Since Common Core methods often differ from what parents learned, helping children with homework can be challenging.
- **Steeper Learning Curve:** Some argue that exploring multiple strategies before standard algorithms can confuse students.
- **Implementation Variance:** The success of Common Core often depends on how well teachers understand and convey the concepts.

Despite its differences from traditional math, Common Core aims to create a more robust understanding of mathematics, preparing students for higher-level math and practical problem-solving in diverse fields.

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