Active mathematics in classrooms : word problems need not be so difficult

It is a truism that young children acquire mathematical concepts by active involvement in tasks that assist them to construct those concepts. Because numerical computational skills also need to be acquired, to the point of automation, drill and practice is necessary. However, drill and practice routines, by themselves, are unlikely to generate deep conceptual learning, and hence understanding, in young children. In order to arrive at understanding young children need to explore materials and ideas, to see how they link together, and how they might fit into their everyday lives.