1+ day, 2+ hour ago (778+ words) I don't typically write responses to other opinion pieces, but there was one two weeks ago about new techniques in elementary math education that has inspired me. The main complaint was that there are too many different techniques taught for, say, multidigit addition and not enough emphasis on standard skills. There was a casual comparison to the improvements in teaching reading, especially the emphasis on literacy by the third grade. It is now widely recognized that reading is fundamental to all learning in mid- to late elementary school. Reading is used in learning history, science and math as well as literature. A student who cannot read by the end of third grade may start to fall behind in other subjects. That connection between reading and other subjects, however, is unique. In elementary school math, there is no equivalent. That is, if…...