By: Emma Toms @tomse98

Everybody is always complaining about how hard math is. What if there was a way to make it easier? Common core math is the new policy on how math is to be taught. It’s suppose to make it easier and clearer to understand, but is it actually easier to understand?
Common core math follows the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for math. Common core focuses more on the problem solving and real world math. Mrs. Bass said "For math, it made what we teach more rigorous, and I'm ok with that. The Core makes it more clear as to what topics must be covered in each course.“
The biggest changes for common core math have been in the elementary schools. Mrs. Bass gave an example with long division. It used to be step after step, now they are hoping that the kids will understand why you have to use those steps.
By starting the common core in elementary, it should make it simpler for the kids when they get to high school. They would have been going through the different phases of common core math from the beginning. When common core was started, the freshmen had a hard time, since they were getting taught a new way.
Boone High School hasn’t made many changes to follow the common core standards, but they have made changes that fit the standards. The chromebooks help them cover the new standards, through the utilization of apps like GeoGebra, which allows students to see how finding the area for shapes and other math equations. They also pursue the common core by having calculators in every math class. The calculators are there to fit the student’s needs by being able to graph and doing complex equations.
One of the issues with common core is getting the parents involved with helping their kids with their math. Mrs. Bass says that "The Core has changed how some concepts are taught in elementary. It might be hard for parents to understand the new ways or methods that students are learning - it is not just old school math anymore. There is a stronger emphasis on thinking and problem solving at all levels.”
Some ideas that she gave to help the parents understand the common core math is by the teachers putting up videos explaining it. A second concern with the common core math is that the schools will have to pay for new textbooks and technology to fit the standards.
There are a lot of pros and cons to go into common core math. Nobody knows what the outcome will be when the new system is established in every school.
Common core math follows the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for math. Common core focuses more on the problem solving and real world math. Mrs. Bass said "For math, it made what we teach more rigorous, and I'm ok with that. The Core makes it more clear as to what topics must be covered in each course.“
The biggest changes for common core math have been in the elementary schools. Mrs. Bass gave an example with long division. It used to be step after step, now they are hoping that the kids will understand why you have to use those steps.
By starting the common core in elementary, it should make it simpler for the kids when they get to high school. They would have been going through the different phases of common core math from the beginning. When common core was started, the freshmen had a hard time, since they were getting taught a new way.
Boone High School hasn’t made many changes to follow the common core standards, but they have made changes that fit the standards. The chromebooks help them cover the new standards, through the utilization of apps like GeoGebra, which allows students to see how finding the area for shapes and other math equations. They also pursue the common core by having calculators in every math class. The calculators are there to fit the student’s needs by being able to graph and doing complex equations.
One of the issues with common core is getting the parents involved with helping their kids with their math. Mrs. Bass says that "The Core has changed how some concepts are taught in elementary. It might be hard for parents to understand the new ways or methods that students are learning - it is not just old school math anymore. There is a stronger emphasis on thinking and problem solving at all levels.”
Some ideas that she gave to help the parents understand the common core math is by the teachers putting up videos explaining it. A second concern with the common core math is that the schools will have to pay for new textbooks and technology to fit the standards.
There are a lot of pros and cons to go into common core math. Nobody knows what the outcome will be when the new system is established in every school.