There always are more questions

The difference between the elementary mathematics curriculum of two decades ago and that of the last decade is in what we chant. Previously we chanted the “times tables”nd played fast-moving games of “flash card.” Today, after nearly fifteen years of revolution in elementary school mathematics, we chant the associative property and ask, “What plus what equals what plus what?” And we still cling tenaciously to the tables and flash cards. The chant curriculum has caused a continuing emphasis on lower-level cognitive skills, particularly rote memorization. We are not much better off today than two decades ago.