You Do The Math: Explaining Basic Concepts Behind Math Problems Improves Children's Learning

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2009) — New research from Vanderbilt University has found students benefit more from being taught the concepts behind math problems rather than the exact procedures to solve the problems. To read more go to

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090410143809.htm

There is a reason why 'basic math' is called 'basic'-because it is. On a recent post on an unschooling group I am with, one unschooling mum tells of how her daughter who has had no formal math was found to be helping her school friend with her math homework (and English essays to boot!). This does not surprise me. My daughters have had no formal math and on entering school this passed Fall were able to grasp math concepts and solve problems with ease.
I have heard that that it takes an adult or an older child 180 hours to catch up on 12 years of missed schooling (I'll get the source for you in a next post) but school tends to draw things out and make simple things complicated.