wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I have seen this alot and now I am curious. Math is math, right? So what is new math??? My 2 oldest were in PS, my now 4th grader just in K and my now 8th grader from K-4th. They used Saxon. So I am completely lost on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamolina Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 As far as I know, when people talk about "new math" they are talking about the math that was used in public schools in the 1960's. (or around there). I am not sure what changed then though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy_kid_wrangler04 Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 As far as I know, when people talk about "new math" they are talking about the math that was used in public schools in the 1960's. (or around there). I am not sure what changed then though. Has it been used since then? Or is it coming back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Here's a thread about New Math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 New Math refers to a number of math programs and initiatives that happened in the 1960s, things such as the School Mathematics Study Group and the Comprehensive School Mathematics Program. Although widely lampooned in popular opinion the best New Math materials were (and are) highly interesting approaches for teaching math conceptually to young people. Many of these programs, which were developed by top-flight mathematicians, did not work so well in practice when put in the hands of teachers with liberal-arts degrees (rather than mathematicians) and generally the "New Math" materials actually used in schools were not SMSG or CSMP materials themselves, but watered-down products of textbook publishers who wanted in on the "trend" but then muffed the job. The CSMP and SMSG materials are archived on the web and one can take a look oneself. In the right hands these programs contain many exciting and creative elements, along with a few things (like working in alternative bases to base-10) that were probably not practical for your "average" student, but might interest a budding mathematician. Some people confuse New Math from the 1960s with what is sometimes called Reform Math (or more derisively "Fuzzy Math") from the 1990s to present. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momsquared Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 So, because I am curious, is this the same as integrated math? My dd's program is integrated math, and although much more based in real life application, often jumps around a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 So, because I am curious, is this the same as integrated math? My dd's program is integrated math, and although much more based in real life application, often jumps around a lot. No, "based in real life application" sounds like "fuzzy math", or "new new math". However, "integrated" usually refers to high-school-level programs that mix together algebra, geometry, etc. rather than having those as discreet year-long courses. Integrated programs may or may not be fuzzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 So, because I am curious, is this the same as integrated math? My dd's program is integrated math, and although much more based in real life application, often jumps around a lot. No. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 And, for a light take on it, check out Tom Lehrer's " ." I guess this is part of the popular lampooning mentioned above, but he's not really mocking it any more than he does the "old math" at the beginning of the piece. (Yes, this is the "old" New Math. And Lehrer's specifically pinpointing the "different bases" part of it. Was that ever actually taught all the way to elementary students?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datimasa Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 So, what are MUS and TT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Some people confuse New Math from the 1960s with what is sometimes called Reform Math (or more derisively "Fuzzy Math") from the 1990s to present. Bill I think iam one of those got confused... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) This was originally a double-post, and this was the same as below. To make myself feel like less of an idiot, if you enjoyed "New Math" above, 's a poke at the British monetary system to the same "tune" that appeared on the Frost Report. (Yes, it's still Tom Lehrer doing it.) Edited November 12, 2011 by morosophe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Math-U-See and Teaching Textbooks, and check the abbreviation page (or the abbreviation sticky at the top of the forum, although that's usually updated on the page pretty quickly) when you have questions about an abbreviation. Oops, and that was in response to this: So, what are MUS and TT? Great, now I've managed to double-post. Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Some people confuse New Math from the 1960s with what is sometimes called Reform Math (or more derisively "Fuzzy Math") from the 1990s to present. I've often heard that called "new new math." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_midori Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Huh - I think the question was actually "what are MUS & TT"... integrated? New? Fuzzy? Rather than what do the abbreviations stand for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morosophe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Huh - I think the question was actually "what are MUS & TT"... integrated? New? Fuzzy? Rather than what do the abbreviations stand for... Whoops! I obviously shouldn't be posting tonight. I'll just be quiet now. (Why isn't there a gag icon?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I've often heard that called "new new math." I have too, but it conflates things that are pretty different and distinct from one another. So it's sloppy usage. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momsquared Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 No, "based in real life application" sounds like "fuzzy math", or "new new math". However, "integrated" usually refers to high-school-level programs that mix together algebra, geometry, etc. rather than having those as discreet year-long courses. Integrated programs may or may not be fuzzy. Well fuzzy is appropriate because it feels that way - unclear. I guess I am a back to basics person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 I have too, but it conflates things that are pretty different and distinct from one another. So it's sloppy usage. Bill IDK, I think there are enough similarities for the label to be reasonable. Both New Math and reform math put the focus on understanding over procedures, and they use a lot of the same pedagogical methods to accomplish similar things. The main difference is that New Math was school math by mathematicians with little input from educators, and reform math is school math by educators with little input from mathematicians. But they are both on the same side of the pendulum swing, both trying to solve the same problem - they do so in different ways, but conceptually ;), they are close cousins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datimasa Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 Huh - I think the question was actually "what are MUS & TT"... integrated? New? Fuzzy? Rather than what do the abbreviations stand for... Yes, that's what I meant. :D So, does anybody know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swimtaxi234 Posted November 14, 2011 Share Posted November 14, 2011 I have wondered about the "new math" too. When my daughter started algebra (3 years ago), she was amazed that when she struggled with a problem that I could sit down and solve the problem but never with the same method that Teaching Textbook used. I couldn't explain why I knew to do that other than that is what I was taught in the early 80s. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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