Archive for: March 2007

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Students and parents, and most teachers are aware of the crisis in American schools today.

It’s fair to say that elements of all of them are part of the problem. But wait…that doesn’t mean that they are the problem.

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Have you ever heard of Hintikka’s Paradox? In a nutshell, it’s about, “Is it immoral to ask someone to do something that can’t be done?”

It’s so easy to say, “Just memorize it.” That’s the cry of people who want you to learn your “math facts.”

But do they ever teach a child how to memorize? How cruel to would it be to grade a kid on his reading ability if you never taught him how to read?

That’s the paradox of the memorization problem. Not every child even knows how to memorize.

There are lots of solutions, but I’ve never seen any good ones on math sites, or ever heard of teachers really using any. Let’s think about our part of helping out before we prescribe solutions we don’t provide.

Personally, I think rote memory is one rotten way to learn. Learning mnemonics is so much more fun, creative and effective. I don’t mean silly mnemonics that are taught in some of the baby-style trendy math methods that are out there. I mean a concerted effort to learn serious memory techniques. My favorite book to learn memory from is “How to Develop a Super Power Memory,” by Harry Lorayne. He’s written more since then, but despite its hokey title, it is the most straightforward of all the books I’ve read.

One solution for learning multiplication without rote memory is the method taught in my booklet “Numbers Juggling - Times Without the Tables.” the link for it is on the top of the right-hand column of this blog. I think this is the best solution for anyone who is dissappointed with the traditional “just shut up and memorize it” method.

Make sense?

Trust your brain - learn mental math and memory methods!

This is apropos of nothing mathematical, but I just wanted to talk about my grandma. I just got off the phone with her. She is a truly amazing woman. I’m not going to say how old she is (she’d kill me if I did!) but I’m fifty, and she’s older than me.

While we were talking, I asked her what shows she’s been watching. Get this - The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Bill Maher! God, do I love this woman!

I hope I am half as dynamic and fun as she is when I’m her age. I hope I’m her age when I’m her age!

My grandmother has lived alone since my grandfather past away, about 25 years ago. But she has kept her spirits up by having a real interest in other people, and trying to keep her mind active. She also takes great care of herself.

Her sisters are also dynamic, fun women. I knew her mother (my great-grandmother), another charismatic dynamo. My mom is, too. (So how did I become a stuffy, pedantic math guy?)

You won’t find me rambling on about personal stuff much in this blog, but that conversation with Grandma just blew me away today.

Thinking about my grandmother reminds me that no matter how old you are, you’re never too old to be fun, intelligent, and have a great sense of humor. And on top of that, she’s a babe.

Hotcha!

Brian

A few years ago, a student wrote me the following question, which I think is very relevant for most children in the US, and that means for their parents and their teachers, too. Math inefficiency is a national epidemic, and it is a crying shame. Here’s what she wrote, and what I answered:

muliplycation

how can i rember my multiplycation? i don not know my multiplycation that well i need an answer. i am going to the sixth grade now i need to know my multiplycation. please answer my question.

I gave this response:

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