Reply #39: Actually [View All]

[LWolf]

I'm teaching 5th and 6th grade this year. Our math texts are aligned with our state standards (CA). I just gave the kids the end of the year test for their previous grade level to see where they were at. The end of the year 5th grade test includes 2 calculations requiring knowledge of triangle formulas. The end of the year 4th grade test requires students to take a string of numbers and give range, median, mode, and mean. Among many other things.

I could go on. The point is that the tough problems aren't uncommon. You'll find plenty of questions that tough on the standardized tests that all children in the nation are required to take, and have scores by school reported in the press.