"How many of you remember your high school algebra? Close your eyes and imagine your algebra class. Do you see students sitting in rows, listening to a
teacher at the front of the room, writing on the chalkboard and demonstrating how to solve problems? Do you remember how boring and mindless it was? Research has shown this type of instruction to be largely ineffective. Too many mathematics classes have not prepared students to use mathematics, to be real problem-solvers, both in the math classroom and beyond as critical analyzers of their world."
I wrote her an email and asked her for references to support her statements. Her reply:
"I'm a firm believer in people doing their own research. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a number of sources to confirm this. I certainly didn't."
And I recall it being fun. Well, some things (factoring) made us groan because they were hard, but we eventually got them, with practice and guidance.
It sounds like Fraser just didn't like math and is trying to punish the rest of us because of it!
The studies that try to show improvement should provide side-by-side comparisons of before and after curricula. Our school improved using Everyday Math, but that was over MathLand, and the question is how much was the improvement, even if it was statistically significant? How good is slightly better than really bad?
In addition, the change corresponded with a new superintendent who set higher expectations of teaching because of NCLB. I think the improvement had more to do with the fact that NCLB forced the school to pay a little more attention to basic skills. The improvement probably would have happened even if they kept MathLand. In any case, most reform supporters select their curriculum and then look any few percentage points of relative improvement. They don't seem to understand that huge improvements are possible, especially with some kids, and especially if you separate the kids by willingness or ability. Why do high SES kids do so much better? Parents ensure that basic skills are mastered and many are separated and taught more at home. Instead of looking for a few relative percentage points, why not pick out some basic skills (which nobody would disagree with) and test mastery of those? As I always say, what understanding and problem solving skills make it OK to do poorly on the simple NAEP test?
In fifth grade, while my son was at a private school that used Everyday Math, they were considering moving to a new math curricula. I had discussion with a (very nice) head of curriculum and told her about Singapore Math. She had never heard of it, so I loaned her my books. In the end, she said that they were good, but "not right for our mix of kids". It was then that I realized that she thought the curriculum was too difficult. Reform math supporters are desperately trying to claim the high ground of problem solving and understanding, but at best, they are only achieving them through lower expectations, and there is no proof that it works. So much for the glories and benefits of EM. You can see these differences in a side-by-side analysis. In our public school's case, EM is all about supporting our full-inclusion model. EM supposedly works by definition because teachers are told to "trust the spiral".
In theory, you can always trade content and speed for better understanding or something. This might improve test scores at the lower end. The funny thing is that the numbers they use to look for improvement (like state tests) are more likely based on a better mastery of basic skills. Does anyone ever look at where improvement happens in these comparisons?
The big lie is that reform math is supposed to be better even for the most capable students. They never talk about how they are really lowering expectations, but covering it up with fancy talk of understanding and problem solving.
Religion might use data as "proof", but that doesn't mean that they are open to data that proves the religion false.
FWIW, I am not a math brained person. . .I like math, and I can do math, but I am not particularly gifted at it. It's always been hard work for me, but hard work can be enjoyable. Must be that midwestern upbringing I had.
As for Fraser -- in her own way, she is also right. There have always been lousy teachers - math and otherwise -- where you could find bored students sitting in rows hating the class they were in. That is probably a function of the teacher's ability to teach and the preparation of the students before they find themselves in that room.
Lynne G is correct. Traditional math done poorly doesn't mean it can't be done properly and effectively.
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