It's not necessarily new, but any new parent may be shocked when their son or daughter brings their first math lesson home. Starting in 2012 educators across the country and here in Texas started changing how basic math was taught in schools, focusing on "a conceptual approach" instead of the times tables and "procedures" previous generations memorized years before.
Marcy Corley, an elementary and math coordinator at Frisco ISD, says lots of research and new studies went into the decision to make the switch.
"Before it was about getting a problem done as fast as you can, but kids didn't actually understand what they were doing. We're interested in the how and building a firmer base for these concepts," Corley said.
While you may see this approach called "new math" online, Corley and other educators don't like that title. They say the math is the same it's just the approach that has changed.
The conceptual method is inherently flexible, where teachers and students search for which way makes sense to each child. But generally it can look like this, a simple subtraction problem may now take five or six steps to complete instead of one or two.
Teachers show students how to break bigger numbers down into smaller parts so they can understand what each number means. Teachers say it's not about speed, it's about mastery.
"When if first saw a light bulb go off for a student, that's when I knew we were making a difference," Corley said.
Conceptual based teaching also utilizes lots of word problems and teaching props, like a block of 100 squares to compare to smaller sets of 10 and 1. Before many students simply memorized but didn't really know how they got to an answer.
"It's all about understanding what's more, what's less and what does addition, subtraction, multiplication and division really mean," Corley said.
Researches say this approach may take longer in the beginning but helps students master more advanced math when they reach middle and high school levels.
Even so this has many parents feeling at a loss. Online people aired their frustrations saying they couldn't help their kids complete elementary assignments.
Frisco ISD has been relatively proactive on that front. Back in 2012 they created online tutoring videos and explainers for moms and dads who felt lost.
"That was really important for us, "Corley said.
With the start of a new school year the kitchen table homework arguments have no doubt already commenced. But if it's any solace for befuddled parents, just know you're not alone and there is help.