Home is where you start from: Barbie was right, math IS hard

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Barbie was right, math IS hard

Today I was helping a little friend with his 2nd grade public school math, here is the problem in the photo...

I was kind of at a loss, clearly the 3 ways show the same number- because it is fact...but how is a second grader supposed to explain that in writing?

And because we can have Huh? moments in homeschool 2nd grade math, too...
Here is a puzzler from Demi's math today:

Jenna ordered four fish sandwiches and one hamburger. How many sandwiches did she order in all?

Mommy thought the answer was 4 - since clearly it was stated there were 4 sandwiches and 1 hamburger.

Demi was of the opinion that the answer was 5 - because a hamburger has 2 pieces of bread and a filling in between.

Clearly this needed much more discussion and polling of opinion. Luckily, I had the solution manual and I could look up the answer and deduct from the correct answer whether or not the author agreed a hamburger was a sandwich, or if he thought it was its own food group. Because, clearly such an opinion is needed before doing a math problem.
I wasn't so lucky with the public school math, I have no solution manual and therefore have no idea what they wanted the 2nd grader to write, beside that it is true.

clearly mom has a headache now.

I hate math.

Clearly, the only rational thing to do was to put away the books and build houses with the manipulatives. Houses with pools.

So, is Barbie thus proved to be more philosopher than dumb blonde? Write and explain your answer...

Labels: homeschool

posted at 5:09 PM
5 comments

5 Comments:

At 4:30 PM, Tricia said...: Two of the best things about homeschooling are...the teachers manual and the freedom to say "let's skip that one"

I hate math too. My favorite person in the world right now is my son's algebra tutor. Gog bless that woman!
At 11:34 PM, Hen Jen said...: Tricia,

preaching to the choir here!! I do feel like I'm not a good example when I blurt out..."what a dumb question!" Must bite my tongue...

I'm not a math person, I try...but I am so thankful for my Math u see dvd's!!
At 1:27 PM, Barb said...: I think I hate math now too, if this is what a second grader has to deal with. And that whole sandwich thing...that gives me a headache too. I don't think a hamburger is a sandwich. I think a hamburger is a hamburger. My second grader would probably be held back a year if I were helping with math homework. LOL
At 10:26 PM, Amy said...: Okay, let's see if I can do it (though it's been a lot of years since I was a second grader):

The first example is a graphic representation of the number. The second is an equation. The third is an integer.

I think we studied these things in college, though.

Did you ever find out what the correct answer was supposed to be?
At 12:19 PM, Anonymous said...: I just came across this, and had to chuckle. I happen to work for Steve Demme, and wrote the infamous sandwich question. I have already gotten grief from our UK edition editor. Over there, sandwiches are all dainty with cucumbers or something! I'll definitely try to rewrite that one next time we edit the book.
Hope math gets to be a little more fun for you!
Miriam at Math-U-See

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