math standards

[SusanAR]

Don't know if you have heard the news about changing the math standards, so I thought I'd mention this since there seems to be so many current threads about math.

 

 

 

But now the standards have pushed Algebra 1 into 8th grade, so all the math standards that lead up to that are tougher than when Saxon set those grade levels. In listing the grade level equivalents that I did earlier in this thread, I was reflecting the composite of the wisdom of the board and the standards of CA these days, rather than trying to represent what Saxon says.

.

 

This may be changing. I heard this on the news this week:

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14780292?nclick_check=1

 

The national math war continues (not here on the boards:001_smile:) and the pendulum swings yet again.

[Teachin'Mine]

Susan that article is scary!

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

While the proposed English curriculum hasn't provoked an outcry, the math debate echoes California's "math wars" that raged in the 1990s and led to repeals of reforms that favored problem-solving, applications and group work over traditional teaching.

 

Under the new proposed standards, primary students would spend more time going in depth on concepts before learning new skills, said Gretchen Muller, president of the northern section of the California Math Council. For instance, students here would learn multiplication in fourth grade rather than third.

 

Rather than following in step with other states, critics say, California should be looking to keep up with India, Singapore and Europe. Compared with their peers in Europe and Asia, U.S. students are two to 2½ years behind in math; California students are 1½ years behind, said James Milgram, professor emeritus of math at Stanford University who will help determine the new national standards.

 

Milgram doesn't think California should adopt what he says will be weaker standards. Neither does Ze'ev Wurman, a Palo Alto high-tech executive and former adviser to the U.S. Department of Education.

"Essentially we are giving up on the hope of teaching algebra in the eighth grade," he said. He charges the proposed standards set the bar too low for college readiness."

 

 

 

 

I guess I don't understand why it has to be an either/or situation regarding traditional teaching vs problem solving and understanding concepts. To me, both of these should be happening in a good math program. This sounds like the 70's revisited. I went to a great ps, but 7th and 8th grade math were a waste of time. It was all about pulling a "project" out of the box and working on it with the other people at your table. Isn't it great to spend days making a multi-tiered tic-tac-toe board??? :confused: To me middle school math sets the foundation for algebra and everything else that follows.

 

 

 

Can you believe they don't want to teach multiplication until 4th grade??? I thought that with throwing "no child left behind" out the window, that we'd be ushering in a time of more rigorous studies - not less. This will create even more of a rift between the more advanced students and the rest. I hope that this program Calif. plans to implement isn't along the same lines as what other states will do. What are they thinking??? :tongue_smilie:

 

 

Okay I'm done. :lol:

[8filltheheart]

Susan that article is scary!

 

I guess I don't understand why it has to be an either/or situation regarding traditional teaching vs problem solving and understanding concepts. To me' date=' both of these should be happening in a good math program. This sounds like the 70's revisited. I went to a great ps, but 7th and 8th grade math were a waste of time. It was all about pulling a "project" out of the box and working on it with the other people at your table. Isn't it great to spend days making a multi-tiered tic-tac-toe board??? :confused: To me middle school math sets the foundation for algebra and everything else that follows.

 

 

 

Can you believe they don't want to teach multiplication until 4th grade??? I thought that with throwing "no child left behind" out the window, that we'd be ushering in a time of more rigorous studies - not less. This will create even more of a rift between the more advanced students and the rest. I hope that this program Calif. plans to implement isn't along the same lines as what other states will do. What are they thinking??? :tongue_smilie:

 

 

Okay I'm done. :lol:[/quote']

 

:iagree: No multiplication until 4th grade????? Jeepers. I can see that for some kids, but certainly not the majority! My kids know their basic multiplication tables in 2nd grade. They would be bored beyond tears stuck doing basic addition and subtraction until 4th grade!

 

Based on this quote......it sounds like it sums up the entire philosophy of the dept of education. The founders of Art of Problem Solving (math that challenges students to think deeply about math concepts) applied to the DoE for an educational grant and were turned down. Here is a direct quote for the reason for their rejection:

 

“While challenging and improving the mathematical problem-solving

skills of high-performing students are surely every-day

objectives of those who teach such students, it is not a problem,

relatively speaking, of major import in American education.â€

-Department of Education Grant Reviewe4

[amsunshine]

“While challenging and improving the mathematical problem-solving

skills of high-performing students are surely every-day

objectives of those who teach such students, it is not a problem,

relatively speaking, of major import in American education.â€

-Department of Education Grant Reviewe4

 

 

:eek:

[MIch elle]

Not many As or Bs on that chart. It's too bad. There should be high stds to "try" to work toward.

 

Has anyone ever walked the halls or visited the labs of MIT? I have (although it's been a long time) and it's looks like there are more Asians than US citizens that attend MIT.

 

What's it like at Caltech?

[Guest Cheryl in SoCal]

Not many As or Bs on that chart. It's too bad. There should be high stds to "try" to work toward.

 

Has anyone ever walked the halls or visited the labs of MIT? I have (although it's been a long time) and it's looks like there are more Asians than US citizens that attend MIT.

 

What's it like at Caltech?

 

I understand what you are saying but I wouldn't assume that someone isn't a US citizen just because they are Asian.

 

In my opinion one of the major differences Asians succeed in math is the difference in cultural attitude towards school. Pressure to do well in school is VERY high in many Asian countries. In South Korea elementary students go to school 6 days a week, in high school they are extremely long days (between school and studying the students get 4 or 5 hours sleep). If the student does poorly he/she brings shame to themselves and their family. Parents pay extremely high prices for private tutors/etc so their children will do well in school. They go to extra classes during vacations to "get ahead" of the other students. Everything regarding the students future is dependent on how well they do in school. If they don't do well in elementary school they won't get into the right high school, if they don't do well in high school they won't get into the right college, if they don't get into the right college they won't get the right job, etc. The pressure is incredible! It's not that they are advanced because the curriculum is advanced; their curriculum is advanced as a result of the culture.

 

The typical American student could never keep up because his/her culture is so different. Our students want to have fun, not spend hours/day at school and studying. Our students aren't willing to do what students in Asian countries are doing. I think there are more issues (such as the ones already stated) but I don't think they are main reasons that Asian countries are so far ahead of the US.

Edited April 30, 2010 by Cheryl in SoCal

[SusanAR]

I understand what you are saying but I wouldn't assume that someone isn't a US citizen just because they are Asian.

 

In my opinion one of the major differences Asians succeed in math is the difference in cultural attitude towards school. Pressure to do well in school is VERY high in many Asian countries. In South Korea elementary students go to school 6 days a week, in high school they are extremely long days (between school and studying the student get 4 or 5 hours sleep). If the student does poorly he/she brings shame to themselves and their family. Parents pay extremely high prices for private tutors/etc so their children will do well in school. They go to extra classes during vacations to "get ahead" of the other students. Everything regarding the students future is dependent on how well they do in school. If they don't do well in elementary school they won't get into the right high school, if they don't do well in high school they won't get into the right college, if they don't get into the right college they won't get the right job, etc. The pressure is incredible! It's not that they are advanced because the curriculum is advanced; their curriculum is advanced as a result of the culture.

 

The typical American student could never keep up because his/her culture is so different. Our students want to have fun, not spend hours/day at school and studying. Our students aren't willing to do what students in Asian countries are doing. I think there are more issues (such as the ones already stated) but I don't think they are main reasons that Asian countries are so far ahead of the US.

 

:iagree: Having lived in two Asian countries, I agree. I will add that in Singapore the teachers that teach elementary subjects DO NOT have an "elem. ed." degree. If they teach math, they have a math degree; science, a science degree. This is a HUGE DIFFERENCE.

Years ago, when I realized that I had more science and math than most elementary teachers, I decided that it was possible for me to teach my own children.

[junepep]

I hope that this program Calif. plans to implement isn't along the same lines as what other states will do. What are they thinking??? :tongue_smilie:

 

California doesn't want to implement it - they may end up refusing' date=' but I doubt it since I've heard that some federal money will be dependent upon the adoption of it.

 

The program is called the Common Core State Standards Initative - the plan is to add it to every state in the union.

 

Surprisingly, this initiative was not lead by the Federal Govt, it was begun by The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. They launched the common-core initiative in 2009. They presented the proposed standards last month.

 

You have no idea how thankful I am that we're going to be homeschooling :)

 

PS ---- Sorry folks -- I didn't realize that this was an old post, I'd followed the link from a thread from today :)

Edited May 17, 2010 by junepep
Sorry folks -- I didn't realize that this was an old post, I'd followed the link from a thread from today :)