Fundamentals of math are back! And more.

[Mad Mike]

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15 years ago the Ont gov't decided kids didn't need to learn one of the fundamental components of mathematics -- times tables. As of Sept they are back. According to EQAO numbers, less than 1/2 of Grade 6 students meet the competency requirements, down 27% since 'Discovery Math' was put in place 16 years ago.

Memorizing multiplication tables is back, and kids will get fundamental code+logic learning. In addition, financial literacy goes into the curriculum-- saving and spending from Grade 4, how to budget starting in Grade 5, and financial planning starting in Grade 6.

Also, it looks like teachers will now be tested to the same standards as high schoolers -- in order to make the grade a teacher must score 70% (B) to qualify.

 

[bigpoppa]

+1
Coding + financial literacy + math
gives the kids a good shot at life

 

[oioioi]

I think this is a step in the right direction.

Financial understanding and responsibility is a lesson(s) that is just as important as knowing the alphabet.

Hopefully the high school curriculum will also be modified to accommodate for the continuation of this. (i.e, filing your tax return, understanding how credit or credit cards work,credit rating, understanding mortgages. ) This isn't necessarily for exposing the kids to this material to see if they like it as a field that they want to go in, but to understand these things as part of life. Make sure they are educated on this stuff and allow them to make better choices when they are old enough and have to make such decisions. Sometimes decisions that make affect you for many years to come. (building and keeping a good credit rating from the start)

 

[Joe Bass]

This is definitely good news.
Now all we need is for them to add cursive back as well, so my 16 year old can sign his effing name.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[oioioi]

This is definitely good news.
Now all we need is for them to add cursive back as well, so my 16 year old can sign his effing name.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

And take away the iPads.

 

[Joe Bass]

And take away the iPads.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.
My kid's school is now part of some Apple partnership, where they will be using iPads and Macs for their STREAM learning.
I don't mind the iPads, and tbh, if it wasn't for my kid knowing this stuff, this whole Covid learn at home thing would have been a $#!+load more difficult.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[jc100]

One of the biggest issues I have is dealing with trendy education theories that come out from people who’s career depends on them developing such things. Sometimes they work but most often they are bollocks. I think you lot got saddled with bollocks for the past 15 years.

 

[oioioi]

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.
My kid's school is now part of some Apple partnership, where they will be using iPads and Macs for their STREAM learning.
I don't mind the iPads, and tbh, if it wasn't for my kid knowing this stuff, this whole Covid learn at home thing would have been a $#!+load more difficult.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

You are right. I don't either.
I guess my comment was in reference to the general disappointment I have with kids and their addiction to their electronics these days.
Anything from iPads to game consoles, phones etc.

I'm not sure, some might say I am depriving my kids, but my kids have never played a game of Fortnite, they are 10 and 6.
The closest thing is playing my old Wii and some cheesy games on the family Ipad.

 

[bigpoppa]

I think this is a step in the right direction.

Financial understanding and responsibility is a lesson(s) that is just as important as knowing the alphabet.

Hopefully the high school curriculum will also be modified to accommodate for the continuation of this. (i.e, filing your tax return, understanding how credit or credit cards work,credit rating, understanding mortgages. ) This isn't necessarily for exposing the kids to this material to see if they like it as a field that they want to go in, but to understand these things as part of life. Make sure they are educated on this stuff and allow them to make better choices when they are old enough and have to make such decisions. Sometimes decisions that make affect you for many years to come. (building and keeping a good credit rating from the start)

I was blown away, I went to college to get my gas license part time, and the banks have set up shop like drug dealers handing out credit cards and debt to kids like its candy... ?

at 18 your still pretty dumb and clueless...

 

[Baggsy]

The High school math curiculum is crap right now. Been that way for a decade or more. At least at the schools that follow the curiculum.

 

[crankcall]

I was blown away, I went to college to get my gas license part time, and the banks have set up shop like drug dealers handing out credit cards and debt to kids like its candy... ?

at 18 your still pretty dumb and clueless...

if they get you at 18, you can begin a life of servitude to financial institutions. It should be considered economic slavery.

My parents didnt talk to us about money , since my parents NEVER had a mortgage on any of the properties, my dad never had a charge card and thought bank GIC's were risky investments. My mom had a charge card, never paid 1 cent interest and loved playing the stock market, but polite people didnt talk about money.
Thery could have saved me a bit of time on the learning curve if we talked about compound interest, not how many bales (hay not weed) were going to come out of the back 100 acres.

 

[Mad Mike]

I

One of the biggest issues I have is dealing with trendy education theories that come out from people who’s career depends on them developing such things. Sometimes they work but most often they are bollocks. I think you lot got saddled with bollocks for the past 15 years.

I agree. I have seen the same thing with adult learning over the last few years, voodoo theories that talk about outcomes but pay little attention to the actual outcome. I have noticed that measurement has also become somewhat a slave to the voodoo thinking as well, either promote them all or set a low bar to make it appear all is good.

I think the definition of 'no student left behind' also needs to be redefined. In reality 'pass 'em all' does not server learners who don't make the grade for a two three reasons: 1) learner moves along with foundations missing which means they are more likely to sink into the abyss than soar, 2) it masks poor teachers who are unable to achieve suitable learning outcomes. 3) removes the incentive for learners to dig in an work 4) sets learners up to think a fail is an oh-well rather than a fail.

I'd like to see more effort in determining outcomes, more incentive to remediate when a learner falls behind, teacher accountability for outcomes, and the return to fail=redo.

 

[Mad Mike]

I was blown away, I went to college to get my gas license part time, and the banks have set up shop like drug dealers handing out credit cards and debt to kids like its candy... ?

at 18 your still pretty dumb and clueless...

True, but the financial institutions are no different than any other business -- they see an 18 year old the same way a car company, beverage maker or for that matter any company. Most businesses that strive for long term relationships with their customers will focus on young adults -- if they keep them happy they become life long clients.

It's not them that make you addicted to credit -- that would be on you. I think it's great that kids will learn to save and how to manage their finances and I'm glad it's returning to school. It was in elective courses for me, grade 9 business and grade 12 economics, where savings, credit, interest, investment covered this in depth. There was no financial literacy when my kids went through school -- I home schooled them on that.

You might be surprised at how much financial institutions invest into making their customers financially smarter. Many have apps that help budget, track spending and guide customers toward better credit positions, full service banks will sit with you to discuss and help you with you r financial plan becaseu it's in their best interest that you be financially healthy rather than strapped with debt. Ask any banker whether they would prefer a 28 client has $50K on a credit card or credit card or $400K on a mortgage mortgage.

 

[GreyGhost]

I think this is a step in the right direction.

Financial understanding and responsibility is a lesson(s) that is just as important as knowing the alphabet.

Hopefully the high school curriculum will also be modified to accommodate for the continuation of this. (i.e, filing your tax return, understanding how credit or credit cards work,credit rating, understanding mortgages. ) This isn't necessarily for exposing the kids to this material to see if they like it as a field that they want to go in, but to understand these things as part of life. Make sure they are educated on this stuff and allow them to make better choices when they are old enough and have to make such decisions. Sometimes decisions that make affect you for many years to come. (building and keeping a good credit rating from the start)

Interest and loans are part of the sept curriculum. Cant remember what year. The Coles notes of the curriculum looks good. Hopefully they dont screw up the details.

 

[Mad Mike]

Interest and loans are part of the sept curriculum. Cant remember what year. The Coles notes of the curriculum looks good. Hopefully they dont screw up the details.

I just hope young teachers understand this stuff well enough to deliver it. It's not all that tough but it's surprising how many people only have a vague understanding of savings and debts.

 

[sburns]

I saw a post last night on Facebook about these new changes, honestly I have only glanced at the curriculum updates, but all the comments here make sense with me, being the correct additions. But again, different people different view or priorities. The comments on Facebook were like babies whose candy was stolen, also because they side with the other political party they automatically say what the PC's are doing is wrong.
It's dumb and people wonder why things never get done. There was a comment about the sex ed being rolled back, comparing it to the dark ages, and the new coding would be similar and limited because there wouldn't be enough computers for the kids. Plus the math fundamentals was the old way of doing math and dated, and the "new math" theory should be taught. From what I understand the new math will still be taught in later grades. They really need a reliable foundation, which I think this brings back.

 

[Baggsy]

Not too sure about leARn tO CoDe, some people shouldn't be anywhere near a computer, and that includes, some teachers. But we'll see.

 

[Delboy]

Nice to hear. My youngest son struggled with math to the point where we had to get him a tutor, who happened to be a retired math teacher.

When the tutor accessed him my son didn't know the fundamentals and he took him right back to basics. He is doing a lot better now

 

[Mad Mike]

I saw a post last night on Facebook about these new changes, honestly I have only glanced at the curriculum updates, but all the comments here make sense with me, being the correct additions. But again, different people different view or priorities. The comments on Facebook were like babies whose candy was stolen, also because they side with the other political party they automatically say what the PC's are doing is wrong.
It's dumb and people wonder why things never get done. There was a comment about the sex ed being rolled back, comparing it to the dark ages, and the new coding would be similar and limited because there wouldn't be enough computers for the kids. Plus the math fundamentals was the old way of doing math and dated, and the "new math" theory should be taught. From what I understand the new math will still be taught in later grades. They really need a reliable foundation, which I think this brings back.

I teach financial fundamentals to hundreds of 20-30 year olds each year, I can tell you very few understand the fundamentals of savings and credit. If you're reading this, ask yourself a few questions:

Credit Cards:
What are the intended purposes of a credit card?
Explain how interest is computed on a credit card?
What is late, what is delinquent?
Can increasing your credit limit increase your credit score?
What level of credit card utilization causes your credit score to drop?
How many days can you use the bank's money for free (before getting charged interest)?

Savings:
What are the 3 main reasons for savings?
If you put $100 biweekly into a RSP savings plan and reinvest the dividends & tax refund, how much will you have in 5 years?
Explain a simple saving strategy.

General:
If you carry 10K balance on a credit card, what is your annual carrying cost? If you carried 0 and put the equivalent interest charges into savings, how much would you have after 5 years.
What percentage of your gross income will most lenders considerable reasonable for housing costs, taxes and debt payments?

.... Now, if you have reasonable financial acumen you can answer those questions without the use of a calculator or the internet in about 5 minutes.

edit -- Ill publish the answers tomorrow.

 

[sburns]

I teach financial fundamentals to hundreds of 20-30 year olds each year, I can tell you very few understand the fundamentals of savings and credit. If you're reading this, ask yourself a few questions:

Wow that is interesting. Some of the questions I would just use a calculator just to make sure but I understand all the reasoning behind it.
Part of saving, is just save for a rainy day, like the pandemic so you can do more then survive. Worked for me.

I helped a student friend of mine one time who wanted to live the life. He was so focused on getting a BMW because that is all he noticed on the street. So we crunched some numbers based off a living wage in Toronto and deducted the basics like food, internet, phone etc..he wasn't impressed.

Financial fundamentals is something the rich teach their kids at early ages, and make accounting games out of it. Seems reasonable everyone should have the same basics.

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