This is now personal.
Two of my grandkids are being terrorized by timed tests! Not only are the tests creating stress
and anxiety but also both of them have adopted the false adage that in math,
“faster is better.” I am compelled to find out more.
Brain Research
Recent studies have found that kids with the highest amounts
of working memory are the ones that are the most susceptible to math
anxiety. Stressful math situations
compete and sometimes take over the working memory. Previously known facts are no longer accessible. Lack of confidence takes over and the
“I’m bad at Math,” attitude sets in.
Students who have the potential to take mathematics to high levels
spiral into math aversion. Yes,
there is a physiological reason not to give timed tests, but what does the
Common Core say?
Common Core
Second graders must know from memory all sums of two
one-digit numbers (2.OA.2) and third graders must know from memory all products
of two one-digit numbers (3.OA.7).
But nowhere does the common core give a time frame. After reading Progressions for the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics K-5 Operations and Algebraic Thinking, it is clear that fluency is important but “this is not a matter of
instilling facts divorced from their meanings, but rather as an outcome of a
multi-year process that heavily involves the interplay of practice and
reasoning.” (pg. 19).
Bill McCallum, one of the authors of the Common Core,
addresses this question.
“It was not our intent to dictate the pedagogical
method. It is no accident that the
standard says ‘know from memory’ rather than ‘memorize’. The first describes an outcome, whereas
the second might be seen as describing a method of achieving that outcome. So no, the standards are not dictating
timed tests. Some curricula might
go that route; others might encourage students to build up their knowledge of
number facts another way.”
Alternatives
So what is a solution? Luckily one of my granddaughter's teachers agreed to the use of flashcards
with her Mom. But how does a
teacher with a classroom full of students guarantee that they “know from
memory” their facts? Any
suggestions?
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