Kathy and Calvin's Home Page

http://wheresthemath.com brings us another video. This time 5th grade student, Madeline Burke, talks about her experience with math instruction on YOUTUBE.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003674945_sundaymath22.ht...
Oh my, my, my. Math is a big issue in Washington state. Somehow they have university professors, math teachers, parents, media professionals, TV meterologists, and even legislators to fight for math reform - back to the old ways.

Saxon Math is unfashionable in the educational bureaucracy. It is structured — even a bit rigid. One lesson leads to the next. Each ends with a list of problems, and all of them demand the right answer. It's so ... linear.

I like the article linked below because it states clearly what someone considers serious issues with the No Child Left Behind federal law (NCLB). Most of it I agree with. Notice the person doesn't blame the parents (although there is blame there) or other things out of the control of the school system.

http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/article.php/20070411142516837

I'm not sure about the special ed part. I can go with the no sanctions if the students don't make progress with their peers but they bloody hell should be tested against peers to see if they are catching up or actually regressing. At least parents should know. All the "developmentally appropriate" testing can actually mask teaching and curriculum problems and I don't see how that is going to help ALL special ed kids, especially the many that can catch up with their grade appropriate peers.

Firstly, the article brings to light the thoughts of the Montana superintendent:

"I would like to see someone who has the guts to say, 'Let's take one thing. Let's make sure our students can do it before we go on to the next,'" she said.

There are some interesting issues brought up in the article located at:
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070408/REPOSI...

Basically, the author points to the differences in the two approaches to teaching math.

The reformers, representing the education establishment, believe learning "process" is more important than memorizing core knowledge. They see self-discovery as more important than getting the right answer. For them it's the journey, not the destination.

Story

Sometimes I wonder about the term, "conflict of interest." In the case of the billion dollar federal grant program, Reading First, I have yet to see one media outlet report the actual amount of money that has changed hands due to a conflict of interest.

So what is worse:

1. A group of people that are emphatic about having children learn to read so they helped develop reading curriculum for a big company and end up on a granting agency board

Have you ever noticed the schools are always flocking to the newest and greatest in teaching methods or curriculum? Every few years some school districts will replace their curriculum with something new. Might as well, the books are slated for replacement anyways. What's the harm?

Actually, there is harm. Firstly, the teachers will now need to acclimatize themselves to a new curriculum. This will require time (cost) and training (cost). Oh, the hidden costs of new curriculum!

Next, the curriculum will need to have in class tests created (cost). Unfortunately, this often requires each teacher to make his or her own testing (cost).

Oh wait, don't forget special needs students! The curriculum will need to be adapted to their needs and learning ability (cost).

This is the last part on the series about NCLB. It was interesting to see that educators see the absolute need for all kids (well, actually only 99%, which the article missed), should have basic skills in math and english, etc.

No Child Left Behind sets unreachable goals

Mary Lowery came to Geyer Middle School with a mandate: to close with as much sensitivity as possible a failing school. Yet she harbors no bitterness toward the law that sealed Geyer’s fate.

In the land down under, teachers have embraced the Pocket PC to keep schedules, grades, notes, behavior plans, even teaching plans.

Article

My google search on "Direct Instruction" came across this article. Wow, talk about putting the issues right out there.

An interesting article that points out that if schools are struggling, it might be of their own doing - if they didn't start effective changes early enough, they won't be able to catch up to meet standards. Something that most reporters fail to note.

Giving up isn’t aim of No Child Left Behind

In this commentary, the first of a series, Andrea Neal reports from Fort Wayne.