On Grading a Math Paper on Rounding to The Decimal Place, and Adding a Zero to the Decimal to Hold the Place to Account for Minute Differences of Number

After looking at it, the teacher's right. I didn't see the whole instructions. She's just teaching her pupil about where the tenths and hundredths and thousandths are.{}

Not wrong at all. After looking at the directions. She's just teaching about where the tenths, hundredths and thousandths are.

I mean, would anyone do that in real life? No... the kid's correct in all but one of his answers, too. So, probably for habit, it's best he didn't follow through with the activity. As sometimes these kinds of things can confuse students. It's mostly all mathematically correct, but with the narrow instructions the Teacher's grade is correct... but why would you do that? That's a question in itself. So... a little interpretive power, the student didn't follow directions. Though, he got almost all the answers right.

I mean, should you have such directions? Eh... you know... that's a trippy one. I just think the student grasps the concept of rounding, so it should possibly be an A [instead of a C].

You learn something new every day. But, do Middle Schoolers need that kind of information [placeholding the Zero to account for minute differences of number it would determine in calculations]? I'd say, it's just the teacher trying to teach them where the tenths, hundredths and thousandths are. What you're talking about is Junior in College Math. Or AP placement. This isn't something you'd learn in Middle or Elementary School. And isn't something you'd use in pure Mathematics. I watch people do Geometric Proofs--a good channel--and he doesn't even do that. Not that I see. That's kind of nitpicky in its own right, and probably something you'd only need to learn in engineering. Especially since most measurements are irrational, I can see how this'd be too much and a little too narrow.

I mean... I see it from both perspectives. It's hard to say what the right answer is, but if she's just teaching him about where the tenths, hundredths and thousandths are, I can see why she's doing it. But, you know... what you're talking about is good for me--as a 35 year old man interested in math--but for a Middle or Elementary Schooler, it might be a little too advanced for them to truly understand. But, she's right in the sense that she's teaching them where the decimal is. You have to learn your ABCs before you learn how to read Chaucer. It's simple as that. She's teaching ABCs. And I'd say after looking at it, she did nothing wrong. It's just teaching where the decimals are, which the child needs to know.

I mean... I just think it may be a little too harsh, though. As if she's expecting the student to know what you're saying--that's something you shouldn't learn until you're in college and taking Engineering. And even then, almost all measurements are irrational, so it shouldn't even be an issue, as you're just nitpicking at that point. It's not wrong for the reason you're saying, is what I'm saying. You're doing Advanced Engineering, when this child is just learning ABCs and spelling. That's way too advanced for a fifth grader, and possibly for even a Freshman in College.