Drills and MemorizationOur only set of drills is the Math Pak. These are basic drills to develop fundamental knowledge and ability with fractions and decimals. We could go through a series of real-world examples to (for example) teach students how to add fractions, but we feel this effort at exploring mathematical reasoning should be done for concepts at a higher level than this. This is why we created the Math Pak: to put a basic set of tools in the student's hands at the outset of Math Team. Please note that those Math Pak drills are not just procedural drills. They include a small description of exactly what it means to do each of these calculations. For example, the Math Pak includes an introduction to fractions and what each operation with them means. We also believe memorization of the multiplication table up to 10 is beneficial. Mental math, a central feature of our lessons, requires the immediate recall of math facts without the use of pencil and paper. Many of these oral problems involve the multiplication table so its memorization helps to promote this very valuable skill. We have found that having these basic skills mastered early clears the way for the student to pursue more advanced concepts more effectively. Now, I must confess that the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) does not agree with this premise. Although we profess to adhere to their standards, we do think the addition of these minimal drills and some memorization is advantageous. This is just our opinion. To be quite frank, we have so little time with the students (one and sometimes 2 hours a week) that not having to provide extensive lessons on these concepts allows us to pursue more advanced concepts in the limited time available. |