My dd hates math... yet I don't allow her to use a calculator and she's finishing Algebra 1. I hear every day how much she hates math, and I tell her that I'm sure math doesn't like her much either! ( )

I know when my 3 were tested (per state requirement) they ARE allowed to use a calculator for the test... my dc will take a calculator with them, but told me that they never needed them for the test!
So.. I do think that no calculator is best.
My ds told me just this morning, that he had to help a guy take a math test for a job requirement. (He was told by his boss to help this guy pass the test.. ugh!!) anyway, the other guy was totally lost on the most simple of problems.
How embarrassing it must have been for him.

LEt me say again, she actually knows her basic math facts. she is just lazy where this is concerned, and she doesn't like to do any extra thinking. she does NOT like taking up any more time with math (or ANY subject, for that matter) than is absolutely necessary (in HER opinion!).

If there is a quick, easy, lazy way to do things, well....you know!!!

She is very good with math and always scores way above average on all standardized tests. she just does not like the mental work that's involved. I think she needs to do more of that kind of thing, myself, but I do get weary with the daily battles and just wondered how many allow your students to use calculators in higher math. I just want to make sure it's a "hill I want to die on."

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I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

I tend to think that if you've truly mastered your facts you don't have to think about them at all - I don't know anyone who pulls out a calculator for 1+2. It's "too easy" - I think at the point of mastery -they're all too easy.

Mom's view was that you should be able to state the answer as soon as you looked at the card- not one second later. She'd just slap them down on the table and expect answers as soon as she put them there. A lot of drill allows more time than that - and therefore less mastery.

If it seems like a lot of work to think of 7x3, it could be that more drill is at the heart of the issue.

(BTW -Not to cause a rabbit trail here - and certainly not to cause a disagreement, but I tend to be of the opinion that EVERY hill is one to die on - because rebellion is one of the MAJOR sins - the Bible says it is like *witchcraft* 1Sam15:23. If you say "I don't care if you rebel against my authority" on some issues. you could be sending a message that you don't want to send. If I don't care about something (like hairstyle) then I just say up front 'I prefer this, but it's up to you')

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http://stuffedveggies.blogspot.com/

If you are certain that she knows her basic math facts, then maybe you can budge on the calculator. One thing that is different for our kids than when we were in school is that calculators are ubiquitous. I use them all the time.

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“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” --Albert Einstein

Once dd knew the math facts for add, sub, multi, and div and fractions and percentages , then we did calculator, did no start using it till high school because she had to use it to do algebra, and graphics and interest. We drilled the facts into her head till 4th gr and reviewed them till high school.

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<a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swtc.lilyslim.com/G2dWbbw.png" width="400" height="120" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight charts" /></a>

I had a haha! moment yesterday. Dd was doing her math and I went in to check on her... and found her bent over a calculator punching in numbers.
I didn't say anything to her.
But I DID think of you, Laurajean.

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I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

If she knows her math facts, and fractions, and percents I still would have not let her use a calculator till she does math that requires it.
To me otherwise what are they going to do when they do not have a calculator in a store to figure out something?

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<a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swtc.lilyslim.com/G2dWbbw.png" width="400" height="120" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight charts" /></a>

Are you kidding? We are talking about a generation that carries a smart phone everywhere they go. Our kids never walk out the door without a small computer in their pocket.

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“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” --Albert Einstein

I'll be honest and admit that I myself often use my phone's calculator to figure things out instead of doing it in my head.