Public School

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Calculators in 2nd Grade?

Posted by StevenLeeDouglasWV on December 26, 2015
Posted in: Children, Jefferson County Board of Education, K-5 Education, Substitute Teaching. Tagged: , , , , , . 1 Comment

Let me start this discussion by suggesting calculators have no place in elementary or middle school grades. The purpose of mathematics in school is to TEACH kids analytical thought. Teaching them how to do math using a calculator does nothing more than teach them how to use a device.

I bring this up because I recently substituted for 2nd graders which included mathematics. The problems they were working on were simple single digit addition and subtraction. The kids had simple calculators and a Teaching Assistant who came to the room suggested to one student they should take out their calculator. Without offending or challenging the TA., I quickly moved to the ELMO device in front of the classroom and did the problems on the board in front of all the kids so the calculators would not be used.

I need to research this issue further…