Between Childhood and Mathematics: Word Problems in Mathematical Education

Abstract

How should we educate our children to help them develop into competent, productive members of the modern society? The purpose of these notes is to address this question. We shall concentrate on that period of life, which comes roughly to middle and high school, when childhood is over, but professional use of mathematics is not yet possible. This age seems to be critical for success vs. failure in rigorous abstract thinking: some students get prizes at olympiads, some are confused and frustrated. Our main point is that good teaching of word problems is essential at this period.