[quote=ColinsMumI think best practice when using a textbook is not to write out the question, but just to write a reference to the question (e.g. page number, question number) and then set about answering it. I've heard it argued that writing out the question helps to fix it in the student's head, and perhaps for some it does, but it doesn't seem like a sensible thing to insist on everyone doing, to me.
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I second this. Asking them to reread the question to make sure they are doing what is asked is a good idea. Asking them to copy the whole question down is not. I remember really, really hating having to write out the whole question as instructed by some teachers in school. It was hard enough to write out the work because it was much faster to do it in my head. I ended up thinking that I must have been a very lazy student compared to most my friends in class. I still remember loving math but hating the math class and the math teacher because of having to write out the question and every single step. So please, don't make your kids hate math by making them write everything out!
