Doing the math

Yes,I offically feel old now. My boys are in the 3rd & 4th grade and they brought some study papers home for their benchmark tests not too long ago. They wanted some help in the math part. I was supprised they are already into pre-algebra and pre-geometry ! It's not just this but it seems like kids are doing ALOT more things earlier now days or is it just me? The boys both did 2 full years of headstart b4 they even went to kindergarded and they had 2 pc's in their rooms and worked them very proficently for 3 & 4 year olds!!I help them always but some of the things they bring home I really have to stop and think for a lil bit and try to remember how it's done! Goodness,I'm worried about high school now 

yeah, I feel like that too with my 7 year old, and she's only in first grade!!! She's brought some stuff home that I couldn't even understand the directions to! I'm dreading middle school and high school for that. 

You aren't alone! I teach 3rd grade and there are countless times where I have recieved homework back with notes from the parents that they couldn't understand how to help their child!

Quoting *Kayci*:“ You aren't alone! I teach 3rd grade and there are countless times where I have recieved homework back with notes from the parents that they couldn't understand how to help their child!”

I believe it! I just feel so retarded having to ask the boys what exactly the question is asking. Things have changed so much since I was their age

yes, most definately. I just did a worksheet about counting coins with my daughter, and flipped the page over, and there was a 50 cent piece. I was surprised they were covering that. I mean, it's money, and they need to learn it, but I had quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies out for visual aids...WTH was I supposed to use for a 50 cent piece????

i sub teach and i was GREAT in math in high school and college. i graduated high school in 2002 and when i teach the math i have found they are learning things completely different from the way i learned. so i can do things my way but now i have a hard time teaching them b/c it is so incredibly different. and i have also noticed they are doing things earlier. i am usually able to figure it out but wow i always feel dumb after leaving those classrooms. i don't have a teaching degree but i have talked to math teachers and they say they can't believe how the way they have to teach has changed so much in just the past few years.

Things really have changed. Teachers used to be able to do so many fun projects but now education is so test driven and making sure there's "no child left behind" that we have to "cram" so much information into their heads and sometimes their little brains just can't take it!!

Quoting *Kayci*:“ Things really have changed. Teachers used to be able to do so many fun projects but now education is ... [snip!] ... left behind" that we have to "cram" so much information into their heads and sometimes their little brains just can't take it!!”

yes...yes...yes. I am so happy to hear you say that!! I feel the same way, but have been made to believe it's just my child that's "slow" more or less. 

Quoting Chubkinz!:“ yes, most definately. I just did a worksheet about counting coins with my daughter, and flipped the page ... [snip!] ... it, but I had quaters, dimes, nickels, and pennies out for visual aids...WTH was I supposed to use for a 50 cent piece????”

I know!! And now these gold dollars too LOL! I'm just waiting for the boys to come home and start telling me about swiping debit cards and online banking 

Quoting cassondrahumphrey:“ i sub teach and i was GREAT in math in high school and college. i graduated high school in 2002 and when ... [snip!] ... to math teachers and they say they can't believe how the way they have to teach has changed so much in just the past few years.”

oh i know it!

Quoting ~the boys mom~:“ I know!! And now these gold dollars too LOL! I'm just waiting for the boys to come home and start telling me about swiping debit cards and online banking ”

In all honesty, that would probably make more sense than teaching them about pennies and half-dollars....they are pretty much obsolete (sp) <-----need to get my 7 y/o to do spell check.