Math is a phobia right up there with snakes, public speaking, and heights. But it doesn't have to be that way. Math: Facing an American Phobia humorously uncovers the reasons behind math's dreadful reputation and shows us how we can help prevent our own children from adopting similar phobic attitudes. The book is a must for both mathematical "haves" and "have-nots".
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
cogent and misguided:
Burns is both right and wrong. She is right that a really good math teacher can teach ideas and make children like math without all of the drilling. I am sure that she herself has experienced this and perhaps taught other math teachers to do the same. But the approach assumes math teachers are more talented than most are. With less talented teachers her approach is a disaster. Students learn neither the ideas nor the basics, like the multiplication tables, that the less talented teachers could have taught.... more info
What's right (and Wrong) in Educational Research: A Case Study:
[...]this book deserves more extended treatment. There are a number of good, positive suggestions in this book for improving math instruction. On the other hand, several of the author's suggestions actually go against the weight of the research in mathematics learning. But the main problem with this book is that it lacks the solid "quantitative" research needed to defend any of its positions. Instead, like many other pieces of "published educational research" it is anecdotal. That is unfortunate because... more info
Interesting, but not convincing regarding calculator use in elementary school:
I found her book to have some interesting ideas of how to go about solving certain types of math problems, especially if they are presented as alternative explanations for students who don't get it on the first try. Not everyone understands concepts in the same way. However, she completely fails to convince in her chapter regarding calculator use in the early grades. How do you know if your calculator is malfunctioning if you can't do the math yourself? Shouldn't all students be held to certain minimum... more info
Teachers � recommend this book for your parents !:
What if you were teaching children how to play basketball. "Imagine that for the first year, you teach them to dribble and they practice only that. The next year, you move on to passing and catching the ball. The next year is devoted exclusively to learning how to shoot baskets. Then you concentrate on the rules of the game, assigning lots of worksheet exercises, which the children complete while seated at desks, working along, and not talking to each other."
That would surely be a "hard" class, with lots... more info
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