4th-grade teacher gives student 50% on a test, despite her getting 92% of the answers correct, because she used 'old math' her dad taught her

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Mar 23, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

Why would she be punished for getting the right answers? 

Have you ever cried at the dinner table with your dad, trying to figure out your math homework? If you haven't, you missed out on one of the most formative father-daughter experiences. 

It can be incredibly difficult for parents to help their kids with their math homework because math pedagogy, especially in elementary school, changes every generation! Tom Lehrer sang about "New Math" in 1965, making fun of the methods of teaching mathematics that are "so very simple that only a child could do it." That "new math" in 1965 was the math that my dad learned as a kid, and he had to adjust to the "new math" that I was learning in the 2000s. As an elder Gen Zer, I see math assignments for today's elementary schoolers, and I think that they have too many unnecessary steps! Why would you break down 8X5 as adding 8 together 5 times instead of just memorizing your times tables so that you know it's 40 in an instant? But my thoughts on "new math" are consistent with those of every previous generation about the "new math" their kids learned. Maybe we just have to accept that there are many different ways to solve a math problem, and that's okay! 

That dad in this story has a daughter who was majorly struggling with math, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and teach her the old-fashioned way of multiplying and dividing. She finally got most of the answers right on her test, and her teacher tried to punish her for not using the methods she learned in class, even though those methods were not working for her.

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  • Female teacher helping schoolgirl in the classroom
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    4th-grade teacher teaching her student how to do "new math."

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Am I the bad guy for making a stink at school and forcing the teacher to change my kid's math grade?

    My kid (4th grade) has been struggling in math. It's been an ongoing issue This whole year, she has struggled with multiplication and division specifically.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • It's been a constant issue, and it got even worse when they moved on to multiplying and dividing with multiple digits.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • We've tried the school's tutoring, but overall she's just not getting it. She doesn't get the method they are teaching (she gets it wrong like 80% of the time).
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • It isn't easier and it's just more steps. Example multiplying... you break up the numbers, draw boxes, then multiply and finally add them all up.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • I decided to teach her the way I learned, and she understands it. Homework is a million times easier now because she can actually solve the questions.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • Father helping small daughter with homework indoors
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A dad is teaching his daughter how to do math the old-school way that he was taught growing up.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The issue is that my daughter had a math test last week, and she came home upset.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • She got a 50% even though she got most of the answer right. She missed two out of 25.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • Pencil on multiplication text
    via Chris Liverani

    Multiplication times tables: a classic type of Elementary school math test.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So it should have been a 92%. I had a conversation with the teacher and it boiled down to she didn't use the method show in class.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • I pointed out the test just said to show their work and not show a specific method.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • The teacher basically went too bad and that if it happens again it will be a 0.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • I was fed up and went to the principal. I'll admit I made it a big deal, because I think it's ridiculous that she got penalized for getting the right answers using a different method.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • It's math... you can solve problems in a lot of different ways. The teacher was brought in, she was forced to changed my daughter's score, and they said it won't happen again.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • She can find the right answer any way she wants to as long as she shows her work.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • The teacher was not happy. My wife thinks I was being an a and keeps bringing it up.
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • She says the teacher has other things to deal with and that I went overboard. Did I?
    via u/PlentyNice1655
  • SoccerProblem3547 NTA This is coming from an engineer, I have done so much math. You can solve questions using a ton of different ways, and some people just don't understand some methods (that's fine). I still find some methods confusing so I just don't do that method. If your daughter got the right answer using a different method it is fine. She knows how to multiple now, that is what is important. There will be more and more situations where you can solve stuff different ways and more methods
    via u/SoccerProblem3547
  • Puzzleheaded-Fly7632 NTA. You did everything the right way. You tried teaching her the way they wanted and it was just causing more struggles. So you showed her a different way. The test said to show your work which is exactly what she did. You tried talking to the teacher first and got no where so you went to the principal. Clearly the principal agreed with you so now you have validation. Not all methods work for everyone. But forcing a kid to struggle that much doesn't make them smarter, it ma
    via u/Puzzleheaded-Fly7632
  • KWS1461 I taught math for 18 years; you did NOT GO OVERBOARD
    via u/KWS1461
  • PlaneConflict NTA. If the teacher isn't flexible enough to teach the math using multiple methods, then the teacher is the problem.
    via u/PlaneConflict
  • gurlwithdragontat2 NTA - it's incredibly dehumanizing and confusing to children when they are correct, but are penalized because of things like this. Like a good parent, you found a method that is good for her and you advocated for her. Children should be encouraged to learn things the way they best process, especially when that process garners correct answers and understanding of concept. Keep an eye on that teacher though..
    via u/gurlwithdragontat2
  • KingsRansom 79 NTA. I had a similar conversation with my eldest's teacher when they were learning division. The teachers had to teach the newer methods first and then the old school way that most of us parents learned. My daughter understood the old way. No more tears and frustration over homework. Their school even hosted a "family math night" to teach parents the newer methods so we could help at home. During an open q&a I asked if the children would be penalized for using the old school way i
    via u/KingsRansom79
  • ActivitySensitive901 NTA not every child is good at math. Finding a way to help your child learn is fantastic parenting and advocating for them is even better. Methods don't have to be the same as long as the outcome is. I would have done the same as you.
    via u/ActivitySensitive901
  • allyvsandgin NTA. In 1998 in 4th grade, I received an accolade (a certificate sent home) for "finding a new way to solve a math problem." I did not get how the teacher was doing it, so I made up my own way and was celebrated for this behavior. Today, schools have become (or attempted to become) so standardized, they're losing the big picture. It is about learning the skills of the subjects, not learning the methodology or structures in which they learn. Some of these methods overly complicate th
    via u/allyvsandgin
  • Quyust NTA. I'm a math teacher and I read this title fully expecting to say YTA. But your daughter showed her work in a logically consistent manner. It's not like she was just lucking her way into the right answer without being able to demonstrate her understanding. The teacher sounds like they're either petty, or they don't understand the other method and don't want to admit that.
    via u/Quyust
  • BumblebeeGold2455 NTA. The was they teach math now is over complicated. If the directions state show your work and don't specifically state to use xyz method. I think it's free game. As long as she shows how she got her answer
    via u/BumblebeeGold2455

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