Day Fifity: The Teacher is Always Right

Today I was talking to two students during Math Centres.  They were doing addition using some strategies like base ten, counting on, doubles and near doubles.  One of the questions was 10+9.  I said you could use counting on.  And then one of the students said that counting on was only for 0,1,2,3 or 4.  So I said well couldn't you count on from ten to fourteen (+4) and then to eighteen (+4) and then to nineteen (+1)? But that was too many steps.  Then they suggested near doubles and I said what about base ten?  They said the answer would be different.  So I told them to fill in a ten frame with the base ten and then fill in a ten frame with doubles and take one away.  So they did and saw that the answer was the same.  So then one of them said we should use Ms. Wiebe's answer because she is the teacher and so she is always right!  I said no no!! I am just asking you to think of the question a few ways! Put what you think works for you.  Man, who knew I had such power?!  And these kids need to be unschooled!