Graduated school over 40 years ago, and my youngest graduated HS before any of this mandated "Common Core" BS was instituted in the local schools. Can't even imagine how challenging it is for both elementary and HS aged students in today's world.

The kids today do their learning in an environment with far more social, and technical pressure than most of us ever had to deal with.

I was taught the traditional method of doing basic math, and did OK with it, but after awhile (like 5th grade) I learned a better method (for me) on my own. Surprisingly, it's a modified version of what they now call Common Core.

But, just because it woks for me doesn't mean other kids are going to grasp the same concepts as easily. Hell, took me several years before I could do the addition, subtraction and division in my head much easier than I could do that long, drawn out method on paper.

In the image Chuck posted on the 2nd, I would have calculated it (in my head) as: Problem is 243-87. OK, 243-100 = 143. Add back in 13 to balance it out and you get 156.

Works for me..BUT, I still think they should teach the traditional way, as not all kids think in the same processes, and the traditional way is bulletproof. Teach a method that works for all, and then if the kid is capable of developing an advanced method of processing the same info, then great for them.

Teaching the old way means "no child gets left behind" because they are unable to grasp the concept.