The LD Expert

Can kids access higher math concepts if they struggle with math facts? Absolutely.

I appreciate this conversation, and I think it's really important. Does rote memorization support and matter? Absolutely. 100% absolutely.

However, it's not tied to a student's ability to reason.

Reasoning is not the same as being able to regurgitate a fact. I would deeply, respectfully, and enthusiastically encourage you to reflect on and consider what could happen for and to your students if you eliminate the belief that memorization equals competence.

Our kids are very capable, and as their brains and frontal lobes develop, as do their skills. When our kids believe that being capable of rote memorization is what makes them capable of being successful in math, we end up with so many kids who think they’re bad at math.

When we can strip ourselves of the ableist belief that knowing and having immediate access to rote math facts = success, the result is that we have a lot more brains - brains that are deeply capable and unique- pursuing careers in the STEM field, which is something we deeply need.