Thursday, May 31, 2007

Children can perform approximate math without arithmetic instruction %u2014 The Harvard University Gazette

Children can perform approximate math without arithmetic instruction %u2014 The Harvard University Gazette: "Children are able to solve approximate addition or subtraction problems involving large numbers even before they have been taught arithmetic, according to a study conducted at Harvard University by researchers from the University of Nottingham and Harvard."

This is a good thing to know about children's abilities..
Approximation is a useful skill and can be used all the time, but that is not mathematics.
My only fear is that they'll not leverage it but rather use it against our children to teach them more estimation and less actual math and hurt their innate abilities.

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