Children, these days!

I just read an NY Post article about teenagers and texting and I thought that it would mention the degradation of the English language due to texting but it did not. It was actually more about how texting can distort what a healthy relationship is and decrease our already shrunk attention span. I am still forming my views on how to control my children's access to technologies (it is our job to set the limits) but I think about how much this will help. Our concern as parents should be wether or not our multi-tasking society can actually solve problems. My friend saw this as a huge deficiency in her junior high math students. As I watch my 4 year old focus on solving a puzzle with laser intensity, I wonder if she will do the same thing when she is stuck on an algebra question? How can I equip her to maintain this skill throughout her life (especially if I have trouble with it sometimes)?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/x-equals-why/2009/05/is_math_fun_should_it_be.html
http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/11/why_does_engine.html

After reading these articles I am more confused. Can we do both, rote memorization and enhanced creativity? Are teachers prepared, parents prepared, US prepared for all this hard work? History of math education in the US has swayed back and forth like a pendulum. We have never fully done both at the same time. As I went through school we were steered away from rote memorization. So our generation has difficulty with mental math.

I think we should approach it like English class. Not everybody is a writer but everyone must learn how to write a decent essay. Likewise, not everyone is a mathematician but everyone must know how to solve any type of differential equation. There is no question about whether a child should memorize the multiplication tables. A child's math growth is stunted without rudimentary mental math. The war rages on. We will have many more casualties until the US decides the comprehensive direction that it needs to go in.

Found a Great Toy

I found a great learning toy the last time I was at the Lakeshore Learning Store. I'm sure it can be found in most teacher's stores. Here is the link to what it looks like http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca|searchResults~~p|WF212~~.jsp. It is a mobile solar system on a stand. I think it is best for children ages five and older. The greatest thing I like about it is that the degrees are marked out on the circumference. Before your child even learns angles and degrees in school, he or she will be able to set up the planets according to the time of year! If money is an issue, split the cost with someone you know who has an older or younger child. That way once one of the children has grown out of it, it will be passed on to the next child. That's what I'm going to do!

Writer's Block

I'm ashamed to say that I have been suffering from a severe case of writer's block. Or maybe it is severe case of spring busyness. Maybe someone can help diagnose me.