Confucianism- Turning Chaos into Order

This blog was started to be a an education based blog but I figure since I learned about Confucianism in an Asian History class I have to share it. I read about Confucianism and wished that some of those beliefs were integrated into our society We are so obsessed about what is best for us that we don't stop and think often enough to think about what happens to others in the long run. We don't have a common goal to work towards. In someways I think it would be difficult to live in all Confucianism way, but I would like to be in tune with some of its thoughts. One is that education is important and everyone should be educated. Another is respect for others and treating them like you would like to be treated. Showing people how to be by leading in the right way works more often then just telling. I think these can all be entwined into education! Not necessarily as Confucianism but more as a basic way of living and using social skills. Something is working well in China who has more college graduates than the US. Click here to learn more about Confucianism.

Teaching Math a New Way- Good or Bad?

I am all for doing what it takes to make learning easier! Teaching in multiple ways is important also! However, I am having a hard time with some of the ways they are teaching math. I am taking A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers. On a 6th grade math book page, they have multiplying by decimals in a crazy square shape diagram with marks going one way in one color and the other way in another color. I understand that it is visual, which may be the draw to it, but I think it makes it more difficult. Maybe it is just because I didn't learn it that way. I decided to ask some children in 6th grade and their parents how they were doing. Parents were in consensus that it was hard for them to help with math homework now because it was not the way they did it when they were in school. 3/4th of the children were struggling with this new math also. I definitely need to do some more research on this. I wonder what the reasoning behind changing how you multiply decimals came about? So I thought a video would show you better what I mean.