Why American Kids Aren't Learning Math
Full Post Here
(Beautifully written by Professor Ralph A. Raimi)
Parents across the country, now with the support of scientists and mathematicians ... have also been finding their voices.
The real contest in ... hundreds of school districts across the country - is between mathematics and non-mathematics, between academic content and childish time-wasting, between what children can learn and what the present curriculum is pretending to have them "develop." A good mathematics program takes advantage of the mathematical discoveries of thousands of years of civilized effort, while [some would have] them counting with sticks, starting history all over again.
The systems of decimal and fraction notation are marvels of compressed information, intellectual advances that Euclid did not have available. Arithmetic is not trivial mathematics, and it certainly will not be "discovered" by school children. It must be taught, and practiced.
Arithmetic is not "a list of formulas to memorize"; its algorithms, such as "long division" and "invert and multiply," are not made obsolete by hand calculators. They are not merely "ways to get answers"; their understanding is basic to the understanding (not the "memorization") of more advanced mathematics such as is used in the daily work of electricians and machinists - among many, many others, including of course college mathematics and the scientific professions.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
"Show Me" (us) The Money!
What is NSF possibly thinking? My Thoughts on PD^3
The education establishment has cornered the market on MATH education research and programs. We are paying big bucks to produce our national math crisis!
NSF--PLEASE stop the nonsense and let real mathematicians get this country back on track!
The education establishment has cornered the market on MATH education research and programs. We are paying big bucks to produce our national math crisis!
NSF--PLEASE stop the nonsense and let real mathematicians get this country back on track!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Engaged Citizenry !! Very Inspirational !!
New Jersey Coalition For World Class Math Standards
http://njworldclassmath.webs.com/
It's well-organized, informative, and very inspirational!
http://njworldclassmath.webs.com/
It's well-organized, informative, and very inspirational!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
NSF Funding for K-12 Math Programs
School math books, nonsense, and the National Science Foundation
http://www.csun.edu/~vcmth00m/nsf.html
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness: Judging the Quality of K-12 Mathematics Evaluations, Committee for a Review of the Evaluation Data on the Effectiveness of NSF-Supported and Commercially Generated Mathematics Curriculum Materials
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092426
That is an "and" I'm reading, right?
Exactly when were tax-payers recruited as investors?
http://www.csun.edu/~vcmth00m/nsf.html
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness: Judging the Quality of K-12 Mathematics Evaluations, Committee for a Review of the Evaluation Data on the Effectiveness of NSF-Supported and Commercially Generated Mathematics Curriculum Materials
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092426
That is an "and" I'm reading, right?
Exactly when were tax-payers recruited as investors?
Missouri State Board of Education
I hope that Missouri's State Board of Education has read the IMPORTANT INFORMATION available at: http://missourimath.org/
If we want our children to be prepared for college level study, we need to follow the advice of the people who know mathematics. Mathematics professors know what is needed for students to experience success at higher levels of study.
When children are not provided the opportunity to learn basic concepts needed for future success, they (and their parents) experience unnecessary frustration and possible failure in reaching their personal goals.
I sincerely appreciate the time that these reviewers have generously given to analyze Missouri's document. Through their substantial time committment, they have demonstrated they truly care about Missouri's students!
Parents and teachers throughout the state need to stand up and say "no" to mediocre math standards and assessments. Read these reviews for yourself, and let our State Board of Education know what you think.
The BOE has an opportunity to lead the way in improving our math standards by rejecting the current draft K-12 math document and allowing college and university math faculty to steer us back on course - preparing K-12 students for success in college.
If we want our children to be prepared for college level study, we need to follow the advice of the people who know mathematics. Mathematics professors know what is needed for students to experience success at higher levels of study.
When children are not provided the opportunity to learn basic concepts needed for future success, they (and their parents) experience unnecessary frustration and possible failure in reaching their personal goals.
I sincerely appreciate the time that these reviewers have generously given to analyze Missouri's document. Through their substantial time committment, they have demonstrated they truly care about Missouri's students!
Parents and teachers throughout the state need to stand up and say "no" to mediocre math standards and assessments. Read these reviews for yourself, and let our State Board of Education know what you think.
The BOE has an opportunity to lead the way in improving our math standards by rejecting the current draft K-12 math document and allowing college and university math faculty to steer us back on course - preparing K-12 students for success in college.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Show Me State
What's happening with Missouri's K-12 Math Standards?
Check out: missourimath.org
The Sept 20 entry is especially disturbing:
"Since I had already pointed out these issues in my original invited review of these standards, I can only assume that the authors are consciously determined to deprive Missouri students of the opportunity to learn this more and more vital part of elementary mathematics well enough to be able to realistically major in technical areas at the university level."
Check out: Missouri's Algebra I End of Course Exam
Does this look like Algebra I to you?
If you're not sure, ask an Algebra II teacher.
Is this really a problem? Ask a college math professor how many in-coming freshmen are placing into remedial math courses. Ask their opinion of our math standards.
Check out: missourimath.org
The Sept 20 entry is especially disturbing:
"Since I had already pointed out these issues in my original invited review of these standards, I can only assume that the authors are consciously determined to deprive Missouri students of the opportunity to learn this more and more vital part of elementary mathematics well enough to be able to realistically major in technical areas at the university level."
Check out: Missouri's Algebra I End of Course Exam
Does this look like Algebra I to you?
If you're not sure, ask an Algebra II teacher.
Is this really a problem? Ask a college math professor how many in-coming freshmen are placing into remedial math courses. Ask their opinion of our math standards.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Leading Us Astray
If you've read the misleading Ed Week article
"Where has all the knowledge Gone?" http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/10/08/07boaler_ep.h28.html?tmp=82481106
you should also read this "Close Examination..."
ftp://math.stanford.edu/pub/papers/milgram/combined-evaluations-version3.pdf
It's time for Americans to stop letting this "research" hurt our children and insist that schools teach the "Major Topics of School Algebra" outlined in the NMP report.
What can you do to improve math education in your area?
1) Compare your state's math standards, learning goals and/or assessments to the list of "Major Topics of School Algebra."
2) Find out how many college freshmen are placing into remedial math courses. Has that percentage increased with the use of "reform" materials in the schools?
3) Express your concerns to local school boards, state representatives, and the state department of education.
"Where has all the knowledge Gone?" http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/10/08/07boaler_ep.h28.html?tmp=82481106
you should also read this "Close Examination..."
ftp://math.stanford.edu/pub/papers/milgram/combined-evaluations-version3.pdf
It's time for Americans to stop letting this "research" hurt our children and insist that schools teach the "Major Topics of School Algebra" outlined in the NMP report.
What can you do to improve math education in your area?
1) Compare your state's math standards, learning goals and/or assessments to the list of "Major Topics of School Algebra."
2) Find out how many college freshmen are placing into remedial math courses. Has that percentage increased with the use of "reform" materials in the schools?
3) Express your concerns to local school boards, state representatives, and the state department of education.
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