« Controversial Topics in Middle Childhood

Should we teach basic math facts or conceptual math?

Math as a whole is important, but the way it is taught can have a major outcome on student success. (Freitag et al., 2024) It is important to note that math facts are more about memorization, while conceptual math focuses more on the reasoning and understanding behind a mathematical equation. From my own personal experience, it is easier for me to retain information if I understand why I am doing it, instead of just using memorization. Therefore, I believe that conceptual math should be taught instead of math facts, as understanding "why" will provide students with an understanding, which will lead to higher student success rates.
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