{"id":23275,"date":"2015-02-16T02:00:09","date_gmt":"2015-02-16T07:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=23275"},"modified":"2015-06-19T15:14:54","modified_gmt":"2015-06-19T19:14:54","slug":"why-elementary-math-lessons-are-changing-in-florida-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2015\/02\/16\/why-elementary-math-lessons-are-changing-in-florida-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Elementary Math Lessons Are Changing In Florida Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\"Frances<\/a>

John O'Connor \/ StateImpact Florida<\/p>

Frances S. Tucker Elementary School fifth grade math teacher Yaliesperanza Salazar leads her class through an exercise to group data on a line graph.<\/p><\/div>\n

At dinner tables across Florida, parents and their elementary school children are trying to solve a math problem: What\u2019s going on with my kid\u2019s homework?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Florida is one of dozens of states that has switched to new math standards based on Common Core<\/a>. The standards outline what students should know in every grade.<\/p>\n

Experts say it means big changes to how math is taught. More focus on understanding concepts and solving problems multiple ways. Less memorization of formulas and grinding out worksheets full of similar problems.<\/p>\n

Math is a constant conversation for Jessica Knopf and her fifth-grader, Natasha.<\/p>\n

They talk about math at the dinner table. They send questions and answers by phone. They sought tutoring in online videos.<\/p>\n

“When this Common Core stuff starting coming home,” Knopf says, “it wasn\u2019t something I could just scribble and go \u2018Oh, here it is.\u2019 No. I had to stop. I had to think about it. I had to go online to Khan Academy. I had to bring my husband in. It wasn\u2019t logical.”<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n

NEW THINKING PROCESS<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Jessica<\/a>

John O'Connor \/ StateImpact Florida<\/p>

Jessica Knopf and her daughter, Natasha, after a homework session.<\/p><\/div>\n

Florida\u2019s new math standards are tough. They\u2019ve meant more homework for kids.<\/p>\n

Most nights, Natasha\u2019s math homework takes about two hours most nights. This evening she’s correcting errors from a recent test. One question asks her to write an algebraic equation to figure out the price of a DVD. Another requires her to recall the commutative property of addition when figuring out the price of several packages of ground beef.<\/p>\n

In every case, she has to provide a written explanation of what she did wrong and how she got to the correct answer. And show her work.<\/p>\n

Natasha says she has had to cut back on hobbies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to have time to do more dance,” she says. “And I auditioned for a company at a studio, but it was too many hours for me to do. And my mom said I couldn\u2019t because the amount of homework I get is just a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Natasha\u2019s mom says the parents in her South Miami-Dade County neighborhood have similar complaints.<\/p>\n

And the new methods of solving math problems are unfamiliar to a lot of parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been very frustrating,” Knopf says. “I\u2019m not going to take the time to learn this to teach her. I\u2019m going to teach her my way.\u201d<\/p>\n