I actually find a lot of it's easier.

What's easier to remember, pi x r x 2 x h for the volume of a cylinder, or simply knowing that you're calculating the area of a circle and multiplying it however many circles stacked on top of each other it is.

What's easier, studying topic sentences and the author's intentions in the Grapes of Wrath or teaching kids the theory behind it? Teach them something they like and how to understand it and everything seems to fall into place.

Kids aren't awful from the beginning and there are very few people that are stupid in the sense that they can't understand if they try. People are a product of their environment and when you put them in an environment that builds these from an early age you can make them smart.