tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post6624101839213300963..comments2024-02-16T06:29:33.587-08:00Comments on Welcome to " The Math UnderGround " -- Seattle & Washington State: Authentic Algebra ................. ............and Why it Mattersdan dempseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-52597895644239508962008-04-04T08:34:00.000-07:002008-04-04T08:34:00.000-07:00I enjoy the feedback. Anyone else have input on CP...I enjoy the feedback. Anyone else have input on CPM versus Core-plus?<BR/><BR/>T squaredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-21435679273257019832008-04-03T23:56:00.000-07:002008-04-03T23:56:00.000-07:00As a friend said to his child:No wonder you know s...As a friend said to his child:<BR/><BR/>No wonder you know so little math, there are hardly any numbers in your math book.<BR/><BR/><B>Few numbers = .....<BR/>..............little number sense</B><BR/><BR/>Clearly a difficult equation for many math administrators to deeply understand.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-58264221563575202012008-04-03T23:00:00.000-07:002008-04-03T23:00:00.000-07:00Yes, number sense is sort of the base for deeper u...Yes, number sense is sort of the base for deeper understanding. I would include factoring (being able to break down numbers into products of prime factors) - it includes different types of numbers, like irrational or transcendental numbers. Operations with fractions and decimals. I would include automaticity (mental arithmetic). Choosing the right form of a number to solve a problem in the most efficient way (fewest steps).<BR/><BR/>Students tend to score lowest in number sense if they score low on tests like the WASL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-58354165644721006102008-04-03T13:22:00.000-07:002008-04-03T13:22:00.000-07:00And Number Sense appears to arise from arithmetic....And Number Sense appears to arise from arithmetic.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-53255576185114485952008-04-03T11:18:00.000-07:002008-04-03T11:18:00.000-07:00I attempted to use CPM Course 1 with a group of 11...I attempted to use CPM Course 1 with a group of 11th graders in an alternative ed program. These kids hadn't had any teacher since leaving eighth grade. They had been raised with Everyday. It was a futile exercise, so I used a supplement (Marcy cook). So the issue here is pretty much number sense. You won't make progress unless the kids have a good grounding in number sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-81461187999195668442008-04-03T11:11:00.000-07:002008-04-03T11:11:00.000-07:00I think Dan is correct about deciding whether your...I think Dan is correct about deciding whether your needs are supplemental or core. A district's curriculum can begin to look so fragmented and ad hoc that eventually it must decide if the whole system doesn't need to be completely overhauled.<BR/><BR/>Singapore would be difficult to implement in secondary only, unless its first been adopted in primary. <BR/><BR/>I would adopt it for a primary ELL program and let the results speak for themselves. Pretty soon the whole district would be using it. But you have to implement early.<BR/><BR/>You could try using a lower textbook (grade 6) maybe in high school and then accellerate the students. But it would be too radical for most teachers and the community. Its difficult for everyone to let go of their closet mentality and admit that their kids, even white kids, aren't learning what is being taught in the classroom. Did I say Washington schools were racial?<BR/><BR/>Singapore might work in an ELL program as was done in Quebec with a line of successful textbooks, but the program was implemented correctly starting in grade 1. And each year a new textbook was added. <BR/><BR/>TIMMS noted the elegance of this extraordinary progam, and divided Canada into two groups - French- and English-speaking. The French speakers did significantly better than the Anglophiles. Toronto rated above the US.<BR/><BR/>What they failed to note in their study was the French-speakers also included Chinese and Russian ELL students who had started grade school in Canada. <BR/><BR/>Even more funny is the fact that Cummins is from Toronto (he freely admits Toronto is a puzzle). And in Toronto, Russian Jews created their own schools - they absolutely detested the public school system. <BR/><BR/>If you choose CPM then your district should adopt the entire 6-12 curriculum for the same reasons. <BR/><BR/>Mount Vernon families voted to reject the standardized curriculum (core plus) in favor of using traditional textbooks at the high school, but they didn't see the connection to the elementary or middle school programs. <BR/><BR/>They also have a large Latino population to contend with, since Burlington and Woolley use standardized textbooks that most of the kids can't read anyway. So their schools remain mostly white. At least those who graduate. Did I mention racism?<BR/><BR/>La Conner uses CPM and they are getting great results - their school has also worked hard to improve the graduation rates of Native Americans. I think this shows CPM works for addressing the needs of a diverse community. And in this Age, what community is not diverse.<BR/><BR/>It would have made more sense to adopt CPM, since it was developed in the Central Valley with (English Dominant Latino (EDL) students in mind. It is not a watered down curriculum by the way. Its in a format that is easy to read - the problems are based on world standards. Course 1 is perhaps the most difficult course of the series to teach - it is difficult to complete all the units in a year.<BR/><BR/>They added middle school later, since it was realized kids weren't entering high school with the math skills they needed to attack algebra problems.<BR/><BR/>If your district is using TERC or Everyday Math, or Connected Math chances are then you will have to supplement CPM. They will be at least a year behind by the time they reach 8th grade. <BR/><BR/>I don't recommend adding an extra course, but rather streamlining the text use (9/13 units of Course 1) and adding a non-writing component (non-threatening formative assessment activities) and target number sense.<BR/><BR/>At some point in a student's career, you have to forget about grading because it no longer matters to them. The student is able to assess for themselves what they need to know or don't know. <BR/><BR/>As a teacher, you only need to point out what they don't know and then give them an opportunity to learn what they should be learning. That is a valid social contract.<BR/><BR/>************** <BR/><BR/>*** If whole curriculum adoptions, literacy, teacher training, and world standards are the success criteria for your district, then either CPM or Singapore would be correct choices.<BR/><BR/>Inquiry and discovery methods work for some students, but they are exclusionary (leave out the majority of students). <BR/><BR/>Direct teaching works for everyone. Some districts are using this fact to make themselves look better than they really are. Be careful before comparing districts.<BR/>Especially, districts that use Core Plus or IMP. They are hiding something extraordinary and you can tell by looking at their Title I expenditures.<BR/><BR/>1. Look at the success of alternative programs. Is the principal bragging about a program that maybe graduates 17% of its students?<BR/><BR/>2. Look at student turnover. If more than a quarter of the students are leaving, then its probably the quality of the algebra program.<BR/><BR/>3. Look at ethnic diversity. Does it match the community's?<BR/><BR/>4. Graduation and dropout rates are manipulated to make achievement appear better than it really is. <BR/><BR/>5. Look at the enrollment in pre-calculus, chemistry, and physics programs. If the programs are small, its because the math program is weak.<BR/><BR/>6. If you see a huge decline in math enrollment between 10th and 11th grade. Its the quality of the math program.<BR/><BR/>All that one has to do is go to the attendance office around March and find the checkout binder that records all the students who've left school since September. <BR/><BR/>If every principal can tell their school board that they raised test scores in their district, doesn't that completely ignore the fact that so many people are still unsatisfied with the quality of the math program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-26598700167309436872008-04-01T22:32:00.000-07:002008-04-01T22:32:00.000-07:00T-squared here is what I know. Core-Plus is so far...T-squared here is what I know. Core-Plus is so far off the NMAP recommendations that when the state puts a course ending algebra test in place, who ever recommended core plus will be led to the Guillotine.<BR/><B> Think France 1789</B><BR/><BR/>Although many of the high performing math nations use an integrated curriculum, it looks nothing like the ineffective junk produced by the NSF. See the Sandra Stotsky statement preceding the National Research Council 2004 in my Math Algebra II High School essay.<BR/>Do not expect a state test for integrated math that will cater to the defective Integrated programs used in much of the USA.<BR/><BR/>John Freal of Blaine High School was involved with SIMMS development early on. He told me it is nice supplementary material but has gaping content holes.<BR/><BR/>Drop me a line off blog and I will send you John's email address he is extremely knowledgeable and could be an excellent resource for you.<BR/><BR/>Also Ted Nutting is conducting a review of a large number of high school text series. I can give you his email also off blog. This could be a wonderful resource.<BR/><BR/>I am partial to Forester. Unfortunately I have not looked for a real math book for some time. Given that the use of real math books has not been allowed very many places during the Bergeson reign of terror.<BR/><BR/> If you haven't got k-8 math right you are really stuck -- Think Seattle. I was amazed that Tacoma got the Saxon Results they did at middle school given the years of disaster previous to its implementation.<BR/>Those Tacoma teachers deserve or admiration and thanks. The scores for this Spring will be interesting when compared to Seattle's, that low income demographic is great for getting the socio-economic disparity out of the comparison.<BR/><BR/>I am incredibly impressed with the Mind Institutes Algebra Readiness package as I've already mentioned on previous posts. I am getting set up to pilot it during the 4th quarter starting in the next couple weeks.<BR/><BR/>I'll run some posts on how it goes.<BR/><BR/>This is the only decent road I've seen to save a large number of kids from math ignorance given the pathetic k-8 math education so many have been subjected to. Clover Park and Seattle have a lot in common given that they have both been the victims of following Bergeson's reform nonsense to the letter.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully this stuff will work fairly well and CPSD may be able to implement it next fall on a larger scale. I hope to develop a great program around this at AI High School next year.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-4502452769491246032008-04-01T10:29:00.000-07:002008-04-01T10:29:00.000-07:00Dan,Our high school is looking to adopt a new math...Dan,<BR/>Our high school is looking to adopt a new math curriculum for grades 9-12 and is considering CPM, Core-plus, and SIMMS. Having read so many negative comments about these curriculums, I'm wondering if the "anti-fuzzy math" people can suggest a more useful alternative. I'm most interested in an Algebra 1/Geometry alternative designed for the typical high school math student. Any ideas?<BR/><BR/>T squaredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-77921100436534931242008-03-31T23:26:00.000-07:002008-03-31T23:26:00.000-07:00Hey T-squared,If we are talking the kid who comes ...Hey T-squared,<BR/><BR/>If we are talking the kid who comes to ninth grade in the SPS with a level one math WASL score, like 1/3 of the entering class will, I would recommend Singapore math grades 3, 4, 5. 6 complete with the challenging word problems.<BR/><BR/>If you had a kid that was clueless but talented and was clueless because of being instructionally disabled with the Pathetic reform math nonsense in the SPS - then I would definitely see using the Algebra readiness materials from Mind Institute.<BR/><BR/>Now if we a taking a normally prepared kid in grade 9 USA we are talking a grade 7 Singapore kid.<BR/><BR/>I really like New Math Counts from Singapore it has lots of examples and a nice layout. It is a five year set that covers pretty much the same materials that the New Syllabus Series covers in 4 years or the New Elementary series covers in 4 years.<BR/><BR/>I have been a fan of Paul Forester's stuff but have not looked at his Algebra or Advanced Algebra recently. <BR/><BR/>T-squared I guess the big question is are we talking math preparation for scientists and engineers or just regular college prep math.<BR/><BR/>These day so many kids know so little arithmetic it is really hard for me to envision big time college prep mathematics for studs.<BR/><BR/>Keep me posted. Why do you want an answer to this question?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-25051702153442256312008-03-31T17:37:00.000-07:002008-03-31T17:37:00.000-07:00What math curriculum(s) would an anti-fuzzy math p...What math curriculum(s) would an anti-fuzzy math person recommend for grades 9-12? <BR/><BR/>T squaredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-43174373170678540482008-03-31T10:30:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:30:00.000-07:00Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” -- Volt...Prejudices are what fools use for reason.” -- Voltaire<BR/><BR/>The argument that somehow we've got to get rid of minority scholarships so that we can have a free and fair America implies that we have a colorblind society where minorities are equal in their pursuit of funds to go to school. <BR/>William H. GrayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-56858440906436230112008-03-31T10:22:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:22:00.000-07:00"Just think of how stupid the average person is, a..."Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!” - G. Carlin<BR/><BR/>“Stupidity has a knack of getting its way.” - A. Camus<BR/><BR/><BR/>"The wise understand by themselves; fools follow the reports of others” - Tibetan Proverb<BR/><BR/>“The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.” - Harlan EllisonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-90565700431453806612008-03-31T10:18:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:18:00.000-07:00There's no justice here - look at the Dept of Educ...There's no justice here - look at the Dept of Education - absolutely contemptible. Why have it at all?<BR/><BR/>This society is more segregated than ever and our students clearly show a lack of education. Look at the streets of Seattle. OSPI is downright hopeless. SPS has its head in the sand. UW ed dept is a duck farm. Oracle, seen any EBDs lately. What a pile of s...!<BR/><BR/><BR/>“The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to contemplate the extent of human stupidity.” - VoltaireAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-76215865374411032752008-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:002008-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00T squared,Not trying to beat a dead horse, but you...T squared,<BR/>Not trying to beat a dead horse, but you know, its like there are so many kids now that don't have a chance of ever graduating and what we've been saying all along I don't think anyone has ever cared. <BR/><BR/>I have an absolute hatred for the school leadership. They have profited from the miseries of others, mostly children. They refuse to recognize that literacy is as important in math education as it is for all subjects.<BR/><BR/>I have no words left to describe the state of math research and why it hasn't been investigated more deeply remains a mystery. And since the statute of limitations is 5 years, most of these people will never be prosecuted. I find it disturbing.<BR/><BR/>I want nothing to do with this country and seeing bush and his entourage making more promises to clean up the banking system only makes things seem worse. He is vain, reckless, and foolish. I despise him and the republicans. Math reform is just one more hoax, along with Reading First and NCLB.<BR/>Why teach? <BR/><BR/><BR/>Name one curriculum that gets outstanding results.<BR/><BR/>Backed by research<BR/><BR/>High approval ratings from parents and children?<BR/><BR/>Excellent training for teachers<BR/><BR/>Meets World-class standards<BR/><BR/>Seamless, indepth focus on important math topics from grades 1to 12.<BR/><BR/>Proven.<BR/><BR/><BR/>You see what I mean, no one listens...<BR/><BR/>OSPI and their supporters can go jump in the lake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-48922640022902790662008-03-31T08:36:00.000-07:002008-03-31T08:36:00.000-07:00What math curriculum(s) do you recommend for grade...What math curriculum(s) do you recommend for grades 9-12?<BR/><BR/> T squaredAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983334520933101277.post-75333369903571522802008-03-31T06:16:00.000-07:002008-03-31T06:16:00.000-07:00HUD Chief, Alfonso Jackson resigned today, March 3...HUD Chief, Alfonso Jackson resigned today, March 31, amid criminal allegations. I know longer think about why data has not been forthcoming. These government bosses are nothing but corporate swindlers. <BR/><BR/>16,000 studies and not one shred of proof that their 'reform measures' have succeeded. This is appalling. Probably, they'll get away with it too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com