Reply To: Lesson 4-2: Automaticity vs. Memorization

[Marsha McDonald]

I remember all to well sitting dumbfounded as to how my teacher was able to manipulate a strategy by just looking at the question. We were given a lesson and somehow when the word problems came along, the strategy in its taught form did not work. I thought that whether we are old or new school we desire the same goals. However, I realize the old way doesn’t really lead to autonomy. I wonder how different my experience would have been if I truly understood how numbers worked. I’ve always loved math and even with grit could not see the various ways around solving different problems. I definitely have a different outlook on my teaching pedagogy around facilitator.