New Math: An Explainer for Millennial Parents

Well before parents had to support their kids heading back to school in a pandemic, helping them with their math homework was hard. But now, in the midst of figuring out the ins and outs of virtual or hybrid learning, it might feel even tougher, and "new math" isn't helping matters. The concept has caught a lot of flak from parents on social media and even Ryan Reynolds who joked about it in a new back-to-school-themed gin ad.

Here, is what you need to know about "new math," also referred to as Common Core math.

Where Common Core Math Originated

Parents who grew up in the '80s and '90s and earlier learned basic formulas, such as long division to solve math problems. But starting in 2010, the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) aimed to change the way American students were taught English language arts and mathematics. According to the math and virtual learning experts at Prodigy, Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practice were designed with three main goals:

1. Provide graduating high school students with the skills they need to be successful either in the workforce or in post-secondary education
2. Boost math test scores for all American students
3. Smooth out the differences between individual state curriculums and practices

In order to accomplish these goals, Common Core math was designed with eight standards for mathematical practice in mind:

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically
6. Attend to precision
7. Look for and make use of structure
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

In short, the goal of Common Core math is to reorganize math content so it reflects how students learn math, says Alesia Mickle Moldavan, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics education at Fordham University in New York City. "It's giving students more options to see and engage in the content, connecting math better to big ideas as they progress through K-12 curriculum," she explains.

"New Math" vs. "Old Math" Strategies

First things first: math is math, so nothing about the actual concept of mathematics has changed for students. What has changed however, are some of the strategies that teachers can use to teach those concepts. For instance, in order to help students develop a better conceptual understanding of what they're doing versus simply jumping into procedures, educators will teach a range of methods for illustrating the underlying concept of a math problem. One of these is "landmark numbers," like 25, 50, 75, 100, which are thought to be easier to work with because we can think about them in terms of money. Another is "friendly numbers," which is typically a multiple of 10 or 100 and also considered easier to work with than, say, 47 or 457.

Say you want to add two-digit numbers. The old-school way millennial parents were taught involved putting one on top of the other and carrying, if necessary. Now, students are encouraged to rethink how they arrange the numbers. Moldavan gives the example of 41 + 29. You could rewrite 29 as 30, which is a rounder, "friendly number." Then, you turn 41 into 40 (also "friendly"). You've subtracted 1 from 41, and added 1 to 29, so that cancels out. And now you have your product: 70.

Another strategy is called "making 10s." "Say you want to add 8 + 6 + 2," says Moldavan. "You might rearrange the numbers so you can quickly make a 10. So, you'll add 8 + 2, and then add 6 to get 16."

This concept is meant to better reflect how you might do a quick addition problem in your head—aka mental math. "Hopefully by reorganizing the numbers, it can help with mental math and a better understanding of what you're doing with that math," says Moldavan.

Additional methods entail drawing pictures to illustrate the concept. "The goal is helping children move away from 'learning recipes' and more toward understanding how numbers and patterns work," says Dr. Rebecca Mannis, a learning specialist in private practice with 35 years of experience teaching children and adults in New York City. "For example, rather than teaching traditional two-digit multiplication, a teacher will often use methods such as the 'box method' or 'arrays.'"

Common Core math also pairs critical thinking activities with a strong emphasis on word problems, says Dr. Mannis. "Some test questions ask students to write a few sentences about their reasoning or the approach they used to solve the problem," she notes.

And by offering students a variety of techniques for reaching their final result, the hope is that they'll have a whole toolbox of different strategies to rely on. "This way, students see it more as a problem-solving process, as opposed to 'where is my formula?'" says Moldavan. In turn, educators hope they'll be better prepared for real-world math. "After all, how often are you in a grocery store thinking you should carry the one?" asks Moldavan.

The Pros and Cons of Common Core Math

While Common Core math might be urging kids to think critically, it continues to raise debate among parents and educators. Caitlin Devan, a mom of two from South Carolina whose eldest is in first grade says she hears from friends that their kids are struggling with an overwhelming number of word problems. "These poor 6-year-olds are supposed to read three sentences to find out the math question and find 'key words' to know if they should add or subtract," she says. "It's really setting them up to fail if they aren't a strong reader. I love differentiating lessons to give students a variety of ways to learn, but some of this seems like it's making things harder than it needs to be."

And Dr. Mannis notes that while Common Core hopes to teach kids to think critically, there's a large emphasis on high-stakes tests, the results of which can be used for placement and assessment of both students and teachers. "These tests have been a source of anxiety for many and have led to a debate about whether they ultimately encourage teachers to 'teach to the test' rather than focus on kids' critical thinking," she says.

That said, ultimately, the jury is out on the developmental demands of Common Core and how valid and reliable the methods of instruction, the assessment systems, and the level of engagement students feel truly are, says Dr. Mannis. "As always, a textbook or assignment is only as robust as the careful instruction and attunement to each child that the learning experience provides," she notes.

Helpful New Math Resources

Parents and students would do well to check out any of the following resources, which Moldavan says can help them wrap their heads around new math strategies and keep students engaged while we transition to remote learning.

• Khan Academy offers math videos/tutorials that walk you through each step.
• Math Playground and NCTM's Illuminations provide games and simulators.
• IXL Math and Virtual Nerd offer practice exercises with feedback.