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Question: "Dear Tutor, My daughter’s teacher allows the use of calculators in class while the children are learning new concepts or solving word problems. (She’s only in the 4th grade.) I’m worried that she’ll never really learn her math facts if she’s allowed to use a calculator. What do you think?
Answer: "Dear Parent, When I go to the theatre, I am positively grateful that the players have memorized their parts. When an English teacher has students memorize lines of Shakespeare, it is regarded as perfectly acceptable. It is hoped that the lines will come to the mind of the student unbidden, and thus reveal meanings that were not previously apparent. It is also hoped that they will be available whenever desired. Insofar as having sample mathematical patterns to consider, the same notions apply. My feeling about the use of calculators by students before they have mastered arithmetic is the same as my feelings about forcing a student to study art history without looking at any pictures.
This week’s guest tutor is Michael F.
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