{"id":585326,"date":"2023-04-04T16:35:37","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T20:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nicolethemathlady.com\/putting-an-end-to-the-controversy-should-students-be-required-to-show-their-work-in-math\/"},"modified":"2023-04-04T16:35:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T20:35:37","slug":"putting-an-end-to-the-controversy-should-students-be-required-to-show-their-work-in-math","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.nicolethemathlady.com\/putting-an-end-to-the-controversy-should-students-be-required-to-show-their-work-in-math\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting an End to the Controversy:  Should Students Be Required to Show Their Work in Math?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Today, we&#8217;ll be diving into a topic that sparks debate amongst students and parents alike:&nbsp; should students have to show their work when solving math problems? Some people are strong advocates for it, while others believe it can slow progress down. Let\u2019s discuss the pros and cons of students showing their work, to help you decide what&#8217;s best for <strong>your <\/strong>student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pros of Showing Work in Math<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ensures understanding of the process: When students show their work, it helps ensure they understand what\u2019s required to solve the problem. It reveals their thought process and allows them to make connections between each of the steps.<\/li><li>Promotes good habits: Showing work can help students develop good habits, such as being organized and methodical in their problem-solving approach. It encourages a step-by-step process, which can help tackle more complex problems later on.<\/li><li>Facilitates self-correction: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. By showing their work, students can more easily trace back to where an error may have occurred and learn from it. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the concepts.<\/li><li>Makes coaching easier:&nbsp; When you do need to help a student correct an error, showing work can help you more easily find it. You will also be able to see trends in where the student needs clarification or areas where your student may have math gaps.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Cons of Showing Work in Math<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Can be time-consuming: Mental math is a way for students to do math quickly in their heads.&nbsp; For some students showing their work may slow them down, especially if they are confident in their ability to solve problems mentally. This could result in less time spent on the higher-level math concepts which may be the larger point of the lesson.<\/li><li>May inhibit creativity: Requiring students to show their work could potentially stifle creativity in problem-solving. Some students may naturally approach problems in unique ways or rely on mental shortcuts.&nbsp; Forcing them to adhere to a specific format could limit their growth and dampen their ability to make interconnections.<\/li><li>Frustration for students with learning differences: Students with learning differences such as dyslexia or dysgraphia might find it particularly challenging to show their work, leading to frustration and discouragement. In these cases, alternative methods of demonstrating understanding (such as having the student explain the steps to you) should be considered.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do I do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, there are reasonable arguments on both sides.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I used to be in the camp of requiring all work to be shown since that&#8217;s what was required of me. However, that changed when I started tutoring a student from Brazil named Gio.  Gio could do an incredible amount of computations quickly in his head.   I kept asking him to write his steps down because that&#8217;s what I was used to, but I quickly realized that all I was doing was frustrating him and slowing him down.  So I asked him how he was able to do so much of it in his head.  He told me that in his math classes in Brazil, mental math was the standard, and students used and practiced it often.  It was really eye-opening.  So at that moment, I shifted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what I do in my house now.  If my son is doing mental math well, and consistently getting problems correct, I do not require him to write down all of his work. I want to sharpen his mental math skills and free up his time to focus on the harder concepts we&#8217;re learning.\u00a0 Let\u2019s be clear though, this is a privilege he has had to earn.\u00a0 If he begins to make too many errors, then he is required to show me the step-by-step process.\u00a0 This repetition should help slow him down and hopefully decrease his errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you decide?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When I ask many parents why they think it\u2019s important that their students show their work, I often simply hear \u201cBecause I had to!\u201d&nbsp; My response to that answer is to go a little deeper.&nbsp; If you think showing work will help your student, then require it.&nbsp; But if they can demonstrate to you that the mental math techniques you\u2019ve been teaching them are working, consider they can be successful without writing it all down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As always, I believe we can always find the answers we&#8217;re seeking from others in the community, so please feel free to share what works best in your home or classroom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy Learning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nicole the Math Lady<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today, we&#8217;ll be diving into a topic that sparks debate amongst students and parents alike:&nbsp; 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