In a New York Times article, Sol Garfunkel, the executive director of the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications, and David Mumford, an emeritus professor of mathematics at Brown, emphasize the importance of real world problem solving over abstract calculation skills.
In math, what we need is “quantitative literacy,” the ability to make quantitative connections whenever life requires (as when we are confronted with conflicting medical test results but need to decide whether to undergo a further procedure) and “mathematical modeling,” the ability to move practically between everyday problems and mathematical formulations (as when we decide whether it is better to buy or lease a new car).
The Mathemagis program helps your child develop such problem-solving skills by emphasizing word problems and providing real-world context.