tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post6284053132973285889..comments2024-02-16T06:29:33.587-08:00Comments on Welcome to " The Math UnderGround " -- Seattle & Washington State: The Beatles, Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, and the mess we are in. Looking to John Lennon to save us.dan dempseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-3485680328367362662011-02-16T09:13:55.468-08:002011-02-16T09:13:55.468-08:00Mr. O: You can lead horses to water; but you can&#...Mr. O: You can lead horses to water; but you can't make them drink it.<br /><br />Veronica: It depends on which end of the horse your leading.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-49517115174856751332011-02-16T09:08:09.429-08:002011-02-16T09:08:09.429-08:00Principal comments (Bloom's taxonomy is equiva...Principal comments (Bloom's taxonomy is equivalent to handwaving)- If your student's didn't get it, its because you weren't following Bloom's taxonomy. Next time try varying your question-asking and wait longer so students can process better... <br /><br />Psychologist comments: If the student is a selective mute, don't wait too long or student might feel some anxiety...<br /><br />Reform it might be, but this is a duck waiting to get eaten.<br /><br />I like this...in a pinch if an algebra class gets too unwieldy in the middle of the school year, then open a new class of extended algebra and put all the D's and F's and some unfortunate teacher in charge of it. <br /><br />The counselor commented - Yes, only next time Mr. O decides to split a class, choose the one that was overfilled, not a class that didn't need to be split. In fact, none of the failing students wanted to go to the new class. Which tells you something - kids know what's up.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-53609912329700753732011-02-16T08:54:36.412-08:002011-02-16T08:54:36.412-08:00A pedant believes that learning can be multiplied....A pedant believes that learning can be multiplied. So if your multiplier is large enough, then your students will simply overwhelm the Test with their storehouse of knowledge. <br /><br />You start with 10 standards, and write 20 objectives per standard or 2 chapters or 6 sections, and then writing 8 questions per objective (naturally blending it like chicken soup, using a balance of Bloom's taxonomy, sort of like finding one's pH). Who says apes aren't running the world already? Mr. O keeps a model p.... on his desktop to tell everyone what he used to teach. How a health teacher became master curriculum strategist reminds me of another dictator's life.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-2666250237631368132011-02-16T08:14:39.920-08:002011-02-16T08:14:39.920-08:00School failure is like global warming, the increas...School failure is like global warming, the increase in dropouts is imperceptible. After a few years, people adapt and get used to the idea that for the majority of students, school provides no academic benefit whatsoever. We can argue over standards and alignment, but the trend in the achievement gap remains incontrovertible.<br /><br />Reform is like a pedant. Better he should go work in a stable talking to horses if only the horse would turn around and listen.<br /><br />As directed by my Principal (Mr. Othello) I now have my textbook directed reading questions all on powerpoint presentations - with each question and answer tied to a daily task (there are 180 altogether and about 2000 questions). <br /><br />To make my students accountable, Mr. O has purchased for our school a grade program and we use data director to do test item analysis. It counts student responses. We meet once per month to analyze data and align our tests. I am a department of one.<br /><br />Imagine what happens in the classroom when you turn this monkey-ass machinery on and watch it go. In the first place, all the students have their ipods or cellphones out. Some students are chattering on about their lives with other students. Textbooks are open and they're supposed to be writing cornell notes. <br /><br />I start by taking down names of students that are disturbing class and log them into the grade program. I use my slides to help keep me focused. <br /><br />To check for understanding, each student has their name on a popsicle stick and I'm supposed to call on them at random. So with some practice, I've gotten pretty good at doing all this. This is what 'research' says works or so my supervisor, Ms. Magoo says. <br /><br />Have I got news for them.<br /><br />After five weeks, more than 80% of my students are earning f's or d's and its all in my grade program. No one's complaining - in fact I'm still the students' favorite teacher. The administrators are not complaining and the parents like the program. I catch cheaters all the time. <br /><br />In summary, now my students are saying they knew all along they weren't ready for this school so they're moving to another school that will take them. My class numbers are dropping - I start out in the 40s and by June I will be down to 20 or so. If they think this is progress, then so be it. I'm open all day to help students, its the only way I can justify failing all those students and still keep my job.kprugmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02126184111625382040noreply@blogger.com