I make a living teaching math to middle-schoolers, most often against their will. The job is rewarding and purposeful, sure, but my next favorite part is the praise and attention I receive upon telling others about my apparently very noble calling. “Wow, God bless you guys. I could never do that. Math? Good for you. Here’s your medal. And some cash.” If only. Next, I’m often asked about common core and new-age math. I’m told math used to be easier in the good old days, that these fancy new diagrams are no way to learn basic calculations. Some days, I think they’re right, but my experience as an educator has taught me otherwise. Times tables and long divisions are romanticized by those who grew up with them. As parents assist their kids with online work, new ways of imagining math problems in the modern curricula have been introduced to those …