First world problem: finger counting.
http://newtonmathtutors.com/finger-counting-is-it-bad/10/
http://www.mathsinsider.com/no-no-no-no-dont-let-your-child-finger-count/
I totally disagree.
I was, and still am, a finger counter... or dot counter.
Without finger counting I would not be able to do math... and considering that I did get pretty far, farther than most (!), I don't think it held me back. So why is there such a push to get kids to stop?
I remember being miffed when my HS calculus teacher gently placed her hands on top of mine when using them to count on the desk during a test, shaking her head "no" to indicated that I should not be using my hands to help solve the problem. The solution? Learning to hide my hands under the desk... or reverting back to counting things out using a a set of dots on my paper (and thoroughly erasing them to remove the evidence!).
I get the concepts, I am a GENIUS at problem solving, but if I count in my head I get off track or switch things around to be wrong. What is wrong with using a tool to maintain accuracy? It may slow the actualy figuring down, but with all the tools available today... who cares?
Sheesh! Let kids use what works for them already!
http://www.mathsinsider.com/no-no-no-no-dont-let-your-child-finger-count/
I totally disagree.
I was, and still am, a finger counter... or dot counter.
Without finger counting I would not be able to do math... and considering that I did get pretty far, farther than most (!), I don't think it held me back. So why is there such a push to get kids to stop?
I remember being miffed when my HS calculus teacher gently placed her hands on top of mine when using them to count on the desk during a test, shaking her head "no" to indicated that I should not be using my hands to help solve the problem. The solution? Learning to hide my hands under the desk... or reverting back to counting things out using a a set of dots on my paper (and thoroughly erasing them to remove the evidence!).
I get the concepts, I am a GENIUS at problem solving, but if I count in my head I get off track or switch things around to be wrong. What is wrong with using a tool to maintain accuracy? It may slow the actualy figuring down, but with all the tools available today... who cares?
Sheesh! Let kids use what works for them already!