tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post2869645356352526648..comments2024-02-16T06:29:33.587-08:00Comments on Welcome to " The Math UnderGround " -- Seattle & Washington State: The Standards - My Opiniondan dempseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-88917976802923538432008-05-21T06:24:00.000-07:002008-05-21T06:24:00.000-07:00I said earlier and I know first-hand Core plus was...I said earlier and I know first-hand Core plus was never intended for young audiences. It is at best a textbook written for low achieiving seniors who have barely passed algebra and perhaps failed geometry, we called it Math 12.<BR/><BR/>When Core Plus was written and piloted the idea was to write a textbook that would also teach students how to use a graphing calculator. Students had to have some knowledge of algebra in order to use the textbook. <BR/><BR/>At some point, the decision was made to call it something else. Ask Hirsch, Fey, Isaacs, and Treisman they will know better than I do.<BR/><BR/>I remember at the NCTM Conference in San Diego when it was announced and the center was hushed momentarily. It was unbelievable the silence I heard at the center, because everyone in that building knew the exemplary textbooks committee had been rigged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-10749900738332667742008-05-17T23:35:00.000-07:002008-05-17T23:35:00.000-07:00It will be interesting if Semler defeats Bergeson ...It will be interesting if Semler defeats Bergeson then we can begin looking at rational solutions to problems rather than politically based nonsense.<BR/><BR/>I am so disgusted with OSPI at this point, I am reluctant to take any additional time with future "What Ifs".<BR/><BR/>If Dr Bergeson is allowed to continue with her disregard for both the children's welfare and the law, deal me out. I am so disgusted I may head for points obscure.<BR/><BR/>I am sure that Ms Santorno will rejoice if I move out of school Board meeting testifying distance of the SPS.<BR/><BR/>The idea that the residents of this state would be so totally uninformed as to sign up for another four years of Bergeson's direction is beyond my comprehension.<BR/><BR/>Being an old codger now, I remember the late 60s with the thought of where one would need to be living to avoid possible nuclear fallout in the future.<BR/><BR/>Take a look at the math curricula used in this state and if you are a math teacher that cares about a quality program, there is apparently almost no place to live in Washington.<BR/><BR/>It is really easy to see why Department heads in Seattle and elsewhere were replaced because they refused to promote the consumption of the reform math Kool-aid being poured by the NSF et al.<BR/><BR/>Just think of me applying for a Job at OSPI how far would that application travel?<BR/><BR/>During the last decade I'd applied a few times at a couple ESDs for math employment. At those times when I did not get the jobs, I figured they had better applicants.<BR/><BR/>Now in retrospect I am certain they had a more philosophically aligned applicant to the supposed best practices of the day.<BR/><BR/>Since reading a bit of NMAP Dr Sandra Stotsky's stuff, it is really apparent how far out of whack the Dr Bergeson train wreck has traveled.<BR/><BR/>It is still amazing to listen to SPS "super" Dr MG-J's plans to get and retain high quality teachers in Seattle. <BR/><BR/>In the Words of the AFT leader in NYC -- what is the matter with all these people that are so concerned that an extremely small percentage of poor teachers may be teaching while neglecting the fact that by comparison large numbers of extremely able teachers leave this field annually?<BR/><BR/>Dr Bergeson have you ever looked at a Core-Plus book? No math professional of sound mind would ever use that book as a primary un-supplemented source and expect their students to know any valuable math content.<BR/><BR/>Oddly enough of those on the Instructional Materials Review criteria panel - Core-Plus is the most used high school textbook among the districts they represent.<BR/><BR/>You can see why I have such confidence in Dr Bergeson's OSPI to corrupt every decision in regard to improving math direction in this state.<BR/><BR/>The NSF has been a prime sponsor of Math terrorism over the last decade and Dr Bergeson has been a most cooperative War Lord<BR/><BR/> -- welcome to the Afgan theater of Math, Washington State.<BR/><BR/>I received a couple of great links via emails from east of the Mississippi -- maybe this blog is expanding beyond Seattle and Washington State. These emails provide a very direct funding link to the NSF and promotion of garbage math curricula.<BR/><BR/>We seem to be a nation bent on funding our own disaster. Write your legislators in WA DC after you read these.<BR/><A HREF="http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/02/pr0287.htm" REL="nofollow"><BR/>LINK #1</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.mathcurriculumcenter.org/about_the_center.php" REL="nofollow"> LINK #2</A><BR/><BR/>With practices like this, it is likely we will be eating our young in the not to distant future if we do not turn this around.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-60241433816719584322008-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:002008-05-17T19:34:00.000-07:00T^2, Your comment is a good one and I think it app...T^2, <BR/>Your comment is a good one and I think it applies equally to the WASL - with so many approaches to math being used, it hardly makes sense that we are comparing achievement on that basis. For example, students who have been taught with Everyday Math are not taught long division and from what I can see they cannot multiply numbers with decimal points. Is it appropriate that we give them tests that expect students to have learned material that wasn't taught to them.<BR/><BR/>In our district, the end of course exams were created by the teachers for each of the classes taught. There would have to be separate tests for integrated math and traditional algebra and integrated math relies heavily on calculators.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I think it is a waste of student time and it serves nothing in terms of making comparisons. <BR/><BR/>Once again it might be tied to funding aimed at rewarding high achieving schools and punishing low achieving schools. It is definitely not equitable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-69042766090228634552008-05-17T18:24:00.000-07:002008-05-17T18:24:00.000-07:00Dan,One of my concerns for the new standards is en...Dan,<BR/><BR/>One of my concerns for the new standards is end of course exams for the two different tracks being proposed. The standards in Geometry are different than the standards for Math 2. How can a valid instrument be devised to test a high school sophomore in Geometry as opposed to Math 2? I do not think one can because the standards are different. So if said sophomore in Geometry fails the test, must he repeat the course? Is the test comparable to the math two test? Is the two track system fair? I suppose it won't matter if so many districts are using the integrated material. The state is continuing to dig a hole which they not be able to recover. Math is a simple discipline, but not an easy discipline. As my favorite math problems direct, "simplify".<BR/><BR/>T^2Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com