The Psychology of ArithmeticThorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Science
The Psychology of Arithmetic
Thorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee)
Arithmetic -- Study and teaching
Reasoning is not a radically different sort of force operating against
habit but the organization and coöperation of many habits, thinking
facts together. Reasoning is not the negation of ordinary bonds, but
the action of many of them, especially of bonds with subtle elements of
the situation. Some outside power does not enter to select and
criticize; the pupil's own total repertory of bonds relevant to the
problem is what selects and rejects. An unsuitable idea is not killed
off by some _actus purus_ of intellect, but by the ideas which it itself
calls up, in connection with the total set of mind of the pupil, and
which show it to be inadequate.
Almost nothing in arithmetic need be taught as a matter of mere
unreasoning habit or memory, nor need anything, first taught as a
principle, ever become a matter of mere habit or memory. 5 × 4 = 20
should not be learned as an isolated fact, nor remembered as we remember
that Jones' telephone number is 648 J 2. Almost everything in arithmetic
should be taught as a habit that has connections with habits already
acquired and will work in an organization with other habits to come. The
use of this organized hierarchy of habits to solve novel problems is
reasoning.
CHAPTER XI
ORIGINAL TENDENCIES AND ACQUISITIONS BEFORE SCHOOL
THE UTILIZATION OF INSTINCTIVE INTERESTS
The activities essential to acquiring ability in arithmetic can rely on
little in man's instinctive equipment beyond the purely intellectual
tendencies of curiosity and the satisfyingness of thought for thought's
sake, and the general enjoyment of success rather than failure in an
enterprise to which one sets oneself. It is only by a certain amount of
artifice that we can enlist other vehement inborn interests of childhood
in the service of arithmetical knowledge and skill. When this can be
done at no cost the gain is great. For example, marching in files of
two, in files of three, in files of four, etc., raising the arms once,
two times, three times, showing a foot, a yard, an inch with the hands,
and the like are admirable because learning the meanings of numbers thus
acquires some of the zest of the passion for physical action. Even in
late grades chances to make pictures showing the relations of fractional
parts, to cut strips, to fold paper, and the like will be useful.
Various social instincts can be utilized in matches after the pattern of
the spelling match, contests between rows, certain number games, and the
like. The scoring of both the play and the work of the classroom is a
useful field for control by the teacher of arithmetic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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