“Let’s start with something simple
Like one and one ain’t three
And two plus two will never get you five
There’s fractions in my subtraction and X don’t equal Y
But my homework is bound to multiply
Math sucks!”
– Lyric from Jimmy Buffet’s song, “Math Sucks!”
Whether or not “math sucks,” the way they teach it these days sure does. Our 8-year-old (The Youngest of The Three Who Will Not Be Tamed) asked me to help her with her math homework this afternoon.
It’s the whole “show your work” thing that gets me. And, her frustration — with math and the fact that her 53-year-old-always-tested-great-in-math-dad can’t help her the way the teacher wants us to — got me to thinking.
Some things in business and life call for improvisation. Some call for memorization.
You wanna know how you should teach math? MEMORIZE THE MULTIPLICATION TABLES! (And yes, use football scoring as the method for memorizing your “7’s!”)
Simple rule of thumb: If the answers never have changed and never will — MEMORIZE. If there are no rules (the other 86.7% of the time), improvise — based on solid facts and well-reasoned presumptions.
The question of memorization vs. improvisation can be tied to one of our favorite themes here at The Heston Group; reacting vs. responding. When memorization is involved, react; remember, the answers won’t / can’t change.
When judgment is called for, improvise. Use everything you’ve learned or think you’ve learned up to the moment you have to decide and then, trust your instincts and go!
Difference makers are able to memorize and improvise, and know when to, as well.
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