[bitwize]

Math is a grind. Inherently. You gotta drill the basic arithmetic in order to learn it, and no amount of sugarcoating will make kids like it. So incentivizing kids to commit to the grind will beat attempting to make the subject more interesting, every time. This is the lesson unlearned by proponents of "New Math" and "Common Core" in the USA; in fact, maybe one of the reasons why Singapore Math is so successful is because Singaporeans, like many Asians, learn the value of discipline from an early age.

[avoutos]

As someone who grew up during the heyday of common core, I can attest to this. Standardization is not a bad thing, but the pace and complexity were dumbed down. We were taught arithmatic with block visualisations and "bundles" far too long as if it took great effort to understand the abstraction of arabic numerals. I constantly felt like my desire and aptitude to learn outpaced the learning materials supplied and I have never considered myself "gifted" with math.

I think many will be surprised by the amount children can learn if you actually test the limit of their capabilities.

I feel the limiting factor when it comes to learning increasingly difficult concepts is not intelligence but effort. Often teachers and parents may mistake the attention-span deficits of kids for a sign that the material is too hard, when the ability is there and only needs to be distilled with discipline.

[graemep]

> You gotta drill the basic arithmetic in order to learn it

Do less arithmetic. We have calculators so arithmetic matters less.

> no amount of sugarcoating will make kids like it.

Sugarcoating is exactly the wrong approach. Its making the subject itself enjoyable.

https://profkeithdevlin.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/lockh...

> This is the lesson unlearned by proponents of "New Math" and "Common Core" in the USA

Not familiar with those, but I the "its fun" approach has worked for me.

[ThrowawayR2]

"We have calculators so arithmetic matters less" you say?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-pound_burger#Marketing_f...

"The results revealed that many participants mistakenly believed that one-third of a pound was smaller than one-fourth (quarter) of a pound. Focus group participants expressed confusion over the price, asking why they should pay the same amount for a "smaller" third-pound burger."

[ryandrake]

I always thought that fast food companies should have used that research to take advantage of the public’s innumeracy and offer a “1/5 pound” burger next to their 1/4 pound burgers, and charge more for it.

[graemep]

I agree with that, but most of those people probably can do arithmetic and were drilled in it at school, but drill to get the right answers does not teach you how to apply it.

[SoftTalker]

> We have calculators so arithmetic matters less.

Disagee. Fluency in basic arithmetic is a very useful life skill.

[graemep]

Some things are. Being able to estimate rough answers in your head is far more useful than being able to do an exact answer with pen and paper.

[lazystar]

> Do less arithmetic. We have calculators so arithmetic matters less.

would you also posit that, since we have AI auto gen tools, we no longer need to teach spelling/grammar to children?

[graemep]

Very different skills.

I would not teach spelling by drill and memorisation either - you pick it up if you read.

[hobs]

It matters less, but the lack of numeracy means many people are befuddled by the most basic math related conversations, statistical conversations (polling), fraction or rate based (APR? Taxes???) things - all over the place.

Learning the basics and drilling them is a useful skill even if you can make the machine do it for you.

[graemep]

But most of those people befuddled by these things were drilled in it, but do not know how to apply it. Drill without understanding.