My 5th grader came home the other day from school and asked for my help with his math homework. They are currently working on converting fractions into decimals and some long division. I took all this in school, so no problem, right, I mean It's 5th grade math...how hard can it be? Turns out....VERY hard. I couldn't even get through the first problem. My son realized where he went wrong and very quickly proceeded to solve a long division problem that looked like Einstein writing out his Theory of Relativity. I had no idea what he was doing.

Then we thought it would be fun to just look at a few other problems....you know, just for a few laughs. This is not the same 5th grade math I did in 5th grade. We both had a great laugh over it, but I firmly believe his laughter was more about my total inability to figure this stuff out. He finally handed me a cookie, gave me a pat on the head and told me to go watch cartoons, shaking his head in sympathy as I walked away.

Fortunately, I found this video of adults trying to do kid math and having about as much success as me. At least I don't feel so stupid anymore and not quite so alone.

 

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