Sunday's Seattle Times reports that math education is a problem here in Washington.
Reader Shalimar informs us about an organization called "Where's the Math?", which is dedicated to reforming math education in this state. The group is holding a conference on April 25th, 2006 at the Bellevue High School starting at 6:30 PM. More information here
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 17, 2006 10:05 AM | Email ThisTeaching Math In the 1960’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
Teaching Math In the 1970’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
Teaching Math In the 1980’s: A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
Teaching Math In the 1990’s: A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)
Teaching Math Today: Un ranchero vende una carretera de madera para $100. El cuesto de la produccion era $80. ?Cuantos tortillas se puede comprar.
Wow, that the Seattle Times would allow such a negative comment about anything in Washington's Educational system astounds me.
In the early 70's we poor innocent kids were hit with "new math" and "pilot programs" for other subjects. It goofed some of us for a little bit, until we got back into the swing of things. Every now and then, I regret having that gap put into my education - it didn't do me any favors.
When I help my kids on their math today, I can do the work and try to explain it, but I always seem to run afoul with trying to explain it within the context of how their teachers are trying to teach them. Is the educational system constantly changing their methods so that parents won't be able to help their kids?
Our kids deserve better.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on April 17, 2006 11:35 AMRock on!
Posted by: katomar on April 17, 2006 12:32 PMAs the article said, Bellevue is removing this obstacle by fully defining the curriculum and determining what needs to be learned at each grade.
There is sentiment to go to the "Singapore" method, even a move to mandate it in the last legislative session. I don't want fuzzy math, but I sure don't want to go back to the days of rote memorization, which is big in Singapore math.
Students are learning to think through problems now. They need fundamentals, but they also need the conceptual side. We won't make good engineers and software designers by teaching nothing but drilled times tables.
Posted by: Janet S on April 17, 2006 12:34 PM"Who cares, I made a profit!"
Great post!
Posted by: Fred on April 17, 2006 03:16 PMAs for math, if you give a rip, teach all of the advanced stuff to your own kids at home. They'll be light years ahead of the New Math kids who take only what they are taught in WA public schools. And who cares. There will be plenty of smart kids from families who value education to make money and keep the US going. It's not like US industry is just going to stop. Corporations will import talent if that's what it takes to stay ahead. Just like today. And, the kids who've learned under the WEA won't need math for their government union jobs.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 17, 2006 03:35 PMReformist's have decided drill and skill are bad words and outdated methods for teaching, and obviously you have bought their mantra.
And, oh by the way, the word teach is now a four letter word. Our teachers are not the problem, the curriculums are the problem. It isn't called constructivist math for no reason. Kids are told to construct their own knowledge and teachers are told to no longer TEACH.
www.wheresthemath.com
Posted by: Shalimar on April 17, 2006 04:42 PM
Washington children would be very fortunate, launched light years ahead most US children, if schools adopted the program.
Elizabeth Carson
Posted by: Elizabeth Carson on April 17, 2006 05:03 PMChildren are better served by teaching all students to be competent in arithmetic. This is something everyone needs, and will be beneficial to learning mathematics when they are sufficiently mature (see links below).
But insisting on "understanding" before "skill" is putting the cart before the horse. How many people would be able to drive a car, if the first step was developing a "deep understanding" of the principles of thermodynamics, and their application to the internal combustion engine?
There is some very interesting material on this subject at mathpath.com. Here is the condensed version:
"Does your child attend a public school? You should know that many public schools forbid rote teaching of basic arithmetic. Instead, they demand that children understand the subject, and that they do so by discovering the underlying principles. But that is an impossible task. Children have immature brains, and simple arithmetic is not simple at all. It is, in fact, one of the great intellectual achievements of mankind. Young children can be taught to do arithmetic, every single bit of it, but they can't be forced to understand it. The harm this "New Math" approach to teaching has done to American children is beyond calculation."
This is developed in detail at:
http://mathpath.com/booklet.htm
Here is the outline:
Introduction
Levels of mathematical sophistication
The development of our modern numbering system
The six elements of our modern numbering system
Psychological development of children
A brief history of European and American mathematics instruction
The truth about 'true' understanding
What's a poor parent to do?
Parents need to purchase basic math books for their children and tutor them at home. Parents need to create the math foundation for their kids. We had to do this for our son. His 5th grade math teacher said he had brought basic math text into his class to help his students and they were confiscated by the district! Our son is now in advanced algebra and honors classes thanks to the basics.
What on earth are they doing to our childrens education these days?
Spiraling math = the most destructive math curriculum ever created!
Posted by: Deborah on April 17, 2006 07:44 PMThe line is 7/5 that they will never get things to add up. Yo, Shaliman da word yous looking for is “TEETCHER”
Forgetaboutit
I agree with your last post, and I don't mean to imply that teachers are at fault, although some of them are not very good.
I blame administration, unions, and yes, the democratic party for removing choice from the equation.
It's too late for me to make a more expansive post of my view of this topic (my brain hurts from paying all those taxes). Tomorrow I hope to post a better explanation of my views.
Take the WASL. Higher-order, critical thinking test. Right? The WASL is created and graded by Pearson, the very people who have published the constructivist math and by the way, are making billions doing so. The WASL is testing this reformed math. Why do you think to this very day, only 47% of students in the state can pass the 10th grade WASL? Because it's too hard? No. Because it tests a process that most don't comprehend because they don't have the basic skills to start with. WA State's own independent analysis of the WASL showed the math on the 10th grade WASL is at 7-8 grade level when compared internationally. But WA isn't looking for the students computation skills on the test, they're evaluating the students processing skills to see if they can construct their own knowledge. This is why they are told to explain their answers. 2+2=?? Explain your answer.
The state is revving up to adopt a mandated, statewide curriculum and it looks like they will be putting TERC, Connected Math and Core-Plus on the table. This is serious and all parents better wake up and do something.
Posted by: Shalimar on April 18, 2006 06:01 AMI agree with much you say. Yes, the Rs are not perfect, but at least they're trying something. In my opinion one of the best solutions for improving education is choice, i.e., charter schools. But the Ds and the unions won't even entertain the idea.
Remember what happened in the 70's with Detroit's cars? They were pretty much junk (which is why I still won't buy a US car). Along came the Japanese cars and soon American cars were much better. Why? Competition. Detroit and the UAW are hiding their heads in the sand and want more of the same, and look where they're headed. For bankruptcy. Congress tries legislative protection, and what happens? Detroit buys parts from Canada and calls the cars American, Japan builds plants in the US and calls the cars Japanese. Go figure.
Perhaps charter schools aren't the answer, but why not try? Why the opposition? Because the union is not concerned about the kids, their concern is for the union members. The Ds want union votes, so they're afraid to propose anything that would upset one of their biggest supporters. A majority of African-American parents favor charter schools, but the only thing the Ds propose is more money. Look at DC; they have about the highest spending per student in the country, and one of the lowest performing student populations in the country. So what do the unions and Ds want? Choice? No. A new approach? No. Just more money.
You are correct about teachers being told to leave if they won't adopt the latest "fad" teaching program. I can understand why; school district superintendents are held responsible for student's performance on tests like WASL. So what do you expect to happen? District wide curricula are the result when the top person is held responsible. I'm not saying that person in charge shouldn't be held responsible, but self preservation takes over and causes them to force new curricula on the teachers.
Beside charter schools I believe a decentralized approach is best; federalism for schools. The school administrator, i.e., principal, should - in concert with the teachers and help from the district staff - decide what program is best for the students. This one size fits all approach doesn't work for the federal government, nor should we expect it to work district wide, or worse, state wide.
I'll have her send the link to her friends.
Posted by: Obi-Wan on April 20, 2006 07:05 AM(liberal) Teacher knows best.
Keep the children stupid so that they are malleable like a herd of sheep.
Forget about facts (trying to make sense) . . . real liberal intellectual superiority doesn't need to make sense -- just feeeeel goooood.
Teach them to plug their ears and repeat to themselves over and over that they are superior no matter how lazy, fat, and intemperate they become.
Hey dood . . . like I am like . . . my tats dood.
Show them that there are no absolutes like right or wrong so math doesn't count because it deals in absolutes.
Ignore the past, reinvent history, economics, ethics, and morality, ignore the scientific method and create "science" out of fancy.
Promise them that all they need do is agree with you and they will be taken care of . . . cradle to grave.
Then harvest from amongst them whatever you need in order to create an impossible utopia.
Universal peace is possible if we all just understand each other.
War can be ended in our time if we all just get along.
All cultures are equally valuable.
Cars cause hurricanes.
George Bush is Hitler.
. . . and honestly honey . . . I promise . . . I'll pull out on time.
Hey dood, grin but don't pull out . . . get yours like Clinton did.
It is no more complex than this.
Snuffy is right. "The US was once a prominent leader in science, engineering and business." We still are but only marginally because of our social ability to adapt, and outsourcing to East Indian and Asians. In India, they require childern to learn just like they used to require here in America in the first half of the 20th century.
Yes indeed, "Perhaps this is why in an era of relativism many children are confused.
Adults too . . . a whole political party called Democrats.
Posted by: Amused by liberals on April 21, 2006 11:51 AMFor a complete copy of the article mentioned, visit the articles page at www.wheresthemath.com
Posted by: Shalimar on April 22, 2006 06:34 AM