Many elementary teachers don’t understand math, and it makes them anxious
I <i>still</i> don't know why long-division works. I don't think I even remember how to do it as an adult.<p>I've always had a very intuitive grasp of math, which meant I excelled at solving things in my head but struggled with (and resented) having to show my work in the arbitrary algorithms we were taught. I understand division <i>despite</i> my education.<p>They really should try to come up with algorithms that are more intuitively linked to a spatial comprehension of the numbers. That underlying grasp is really all that sticks with you into the real world (and it's also what makes math engaging). If students aren't getting that, they're wasting their time in my opinion.