Practice
in computational algorithms or methods has dominated the mathematics curriculum.
With increased use of technology, students should be able to make decisions
about when to use certain computations and about the reasonableness of
the answers they get. Thus, students should have access to calculators
or computers to use along with paper-and-pencil calculations.
The algorithms emphasized in early grades should also be supported by student-invented methods. By allowing alternative algorithms, students are encouraged to think about the techniques rather than routinely applying steps that they do not understand.
In grades K4, the mathematics curriculum should develop whole number computation so that students can