I’ve written before that teaching time isn’t only about telling time. And this morning I started thinking about it again.
I found my super fun circle watch from Fossil and put it on. I haven’t worn a watch in quite a while. So it’s fun wear it again.
We don’t need to wear watches anymore.
Well, except for fashion. Our mobile phones (even the “dumb” ones) keep time rather well.
If you need the time, you dig out your phone. And if it’s too deep in your purse, you ask someone.
And they tell you with words like, “It’s 8:23.”
You never have to wonder.
Do you recall this type of conversation:
Kate: What time do you have?
Wil: I show 10:15, but I’m usually about 5 minutes fast. So it’s really about ten after.
Kate: Thanks!
That phrase, do you have, is now obsolete. Everyone has the same time. It’s from Verizon, AT&T or TMobile. And they get it from the same place – the place that has the exact time.
This means a lot for math.
Nobody runs fast or slow. Also, we don’t have to add or subtract to get the real time.
The time just is.
20 years ago when your watch was six minutes fast, you had to do this to get the real time:
- Look at your watch.
- Figure out the time (the big hand’s on the …”).
- Subtract 6.
You got to practice addition and subtraction – often!
Which means our kids don’t get this benefit.
Is it hurting them?
What do you think? Share in the comments and don’t forget to tweet it out!
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