Many state and local initiatives to improve teaching and learning mathematics are based on these Standards. These myths need to be dispelled.
Basic computation is ignored.
On the contrary, developing skills in basic computation is not to be ignored. Children must still have a command of basic addition and multiplication facts. Learning basic facts is not a prerequisite for solving problems, but learning the facts becomes a necessity to solve problems that are meaningful, relevant, and interesting to learners. Basic facts are learned effortlessly by meaningful repetition in the context of games and activities rather than by meaningless rote memorization. By encountering a variety of contexts and tasks, learners have opportunities to develop and apply thinking strategies that support and complement learning the basic facts.