We have been involved with the NHDOE for the past two years documenting our improvement efforts. One of four goals is to increase our performance in math for all students. Professional development for staff is one of the keys to improving math instruction and student performance. I have listed below the objective and the activities involved in this project.
Ensure rigorous and relevant mathematics programs are in place to engage all students
· Restructuring of the use of Math Learning Lab at the high school
· Purchase and utilization of Number Worlds and Do the Math programs for specific populations
· Professional development for certified teachers and para-educators in the use of mathematics interventions
· Restructuring of Extended School Year (ESY) programs for elementary students targeting specific mathematics skill development
· Regular classroom walkthrough observations
· Quarterly common formative assessments in grade 6
· Monitoring of assessment results
· Use of cuisenaire rods and other teaching tools to develop mathematical reason, understanding, and automaticity
· Use of “math ladders” to assess students’ automaticity of basic facts
· Professional development provided by Mahesh Sharma K-12 staff with a focus on differentiation of math instruction and use of manipulatives
· Math coaches working with grade 7-12 math teachers to improve instructional strategies
· Grades 7 and 8 math pilots
· Accelerated math opportunities for above level grade 8 students
· Tutoring and “Homework Academy” available for students daily at middle school
· Weekly formal and informal observations of all middle school math teachers completed by math coach and middle school administrators
How about just teaching basic skills? Cuisenaire rods aren’t going to do a darned thing. Most ‘manipulatives’ have limited benefits to learning.
Which company is selling you all this stuff? The education ‘industry’ knows where 3/4 of our local tax dollars is going and they are all vying for a piece of it.
When are people going to figure this out?
NMSA Research Summary
Manipulatives in Middle Grades Mathematics
(February 2009)
http://www.nmsa.org/Research/ResearchSummaries/Mathematics/tabid/1832/Default.aspx
I guess what I’d like to understand is why we ever started to move away with what we know worked?…the United States was the capital of innovation and we excelled in everything…in the past couple of decades we have fallen behind, yet we continue to experiment…I’d be willing to bet that for every study that supports manipulatives, I can find one that does not…
“Education reform is a defining issue”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20487.html
More rhetoric?…will Obama take on a large part of his base?…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI&feature=related
This is a good link that made me believe that one very big problem is that introducing “re-formed” math actually creates a disconnect between students and parents at a time when we need just the opposite…in any instance, most parents today learned math with traditional algorithms…I suggest the district create and post videos that provide basic instruction that parents could understand…it may encourage people to take the time to learn more and become more involved with their kids education…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRswUOsBRIY&feature=related
There was a lot said in this youtube video, but what I took away from this was the cultural differences that play a role in today’s educational results…this was interesting…
couple of good examples of the difference between traditional algorithms and Everyday Math algorithms…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKld7lQHKRg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbAmvgDj0Rk&feature=related
“introducing “re-formed” math actually creates a disconnect between students and parents at a time when we need just the opposite.”
I believe that is quite true. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out anything about the math my kid brings home these days. (I am no idiot, I graduated summa cum laude from college!)
And, while we are wondering about things, can anyone please explain why my son’s teachers are all out this week when grades close for the term on Friday? He will have a fat chance of bringing his lone C+ up to Honor Roll standards by then if all his teachers are out!