Here's a summary of funding for FY2010. You can see that the eMints instructional model is all over the place.
If you haven't heard about the eMINTS instructional model, look on the right side here.
AND THEN CONTRAST THAT WITH SOME REAL RESEARCH ABOUT INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION!
Showing posts with label Missouri math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missouri math. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
METS Coalition
Missouri METS Coalition has a new, improved website. Let's hope that they've stopped promoting those mediocre math programs too!
(scroll down to see the red text)
Some of the links on that post don't work anymore, but luckily I had inserted the actual text from their old website. This is the only thing I can find on those grants right now, so maybe they've stopped their coercive practices. One can hope!
(scroll down to see the red text)
Some of the links on that post don't work anymore, but luckily I had inserted the actual text from their old website. This is the only thing I can find on those grants right now, so maybe they've stopped their coercive practices. One can hope!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
MO HCR 13 and SB 936
Everyone needs to read this one. HCR 13 The beginning sounds good, but ask yourself... Why in the world would Missouri want to legislate "criterion-referenced" testing. We sure don't have that great of a record in creating quality math standards and assessments.
Don't we need the "reality check" that normative data could provide?
Secondly, why does HCR 13 specifically say that "An external audit would be preferable, but an internal audit would be acceptable, provided that the personnel involved be trained by professionals." An INTERNAL AUDIT (oxymoron) conducted by their own personnel which are trained BY professionals, but don't necessarily have to BE trained professionals!
Please consider sharing your thoughts on this resolution with our Representatives and Senators. The MDHE conducted a great Curriculum Alignment Initiative which seems to be ignored by DESE in this resolution. Why? We want our children prepared for college!
This is what we need!
SB 936 establishes the Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative within the Department of Higher Education. Matching funds may be provided by the Department and the General Assembly to fund the programs described in the act.
The Initiative will provide support to increase interest among K-12 students in science, technology, engineering, and math to increase the number of students who enter these fields at Missouri's public institutions of higher education.
Programs that may be supported through the Initiative include: endowed teaching professor programs to support faculty; scholarship programs to provide financial aid and loan forgiveness to Missouri students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas, as described in the act; experiential youth programs at public colleges or universities; and career enhancement programs for current elementary and secondary teachers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields to improve teaching quality.
Consider thanking Senator Pearce
Don't we need the "reality check" that normative data could provide?
Secondly, why does HCR 13 specifically say that "An external audit would be preferable, but an internal audit would be acceptable, provided that the personnel involved be trained by professionals." An INTERNAL AUDIT (oxymoron) conducted by their own personnel which are trained BY professionals, but don't necessarily have to BE trained professionals!
Please consider sharing your thoughts on this resolution with our Representatives and Senators. The MDHE conducted a great Curriculum Alignment Initiative which seems to be ignored by DESE in this resolution. Why? We want our children prepared for college!
This is what we need!
SB 936 establishes the Missouri Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative within the Department of Higher Education. Matching funds may be provided by the Department and the General Assembly to fund the programs described in the act.
The Initiative will provide support to increase interest among K-12 students in science, technology, engineering, and math to increase the number of students who enter these fields at Missouri's public institutions of higher education.
Programs that may be supported through the Initiative include: endowed teaching professor programs to support faculty; scholarship programs to provide financial aid and loan forgiveness to Missouri students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics areas, as described in the act; experiential youth programs at public colleges or universities; and career enhancement programs for current elementary and secondary teachers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields to improve teaching quality.
Consider thanking Senator Pearce
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tax Dollars at Work - Reprise!
Everyday Math and Investigations are
two of the Elementary Programs given
competitive priority for eMints/METS grants.
(see #8 at above link)
The math programs listed there are the same
programs in the report
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness:
Juding 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
two of the Elementary Programs given
competitive priority for eMints/METS grants.
(see #8 at above link)
The math programs listed there are the same
programs in the report
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness:
Juding 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
In response to our charge, the committee finds that:
The corpus of evaluation studies as a whole across the 19 programs studied does not permit one to determine the effectiveness of individual programs with high degree of certainty, due to the restricted number of studies for any particular curriculum, limitations in the array of methods used, and the uneven quality of the studies.
Therefore, according to our charge, we recommend that:
No second phase of this evaluation review should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of any particular program or set of curricular programs dependent on the current database.
Your tax dollars are at work, promoting these
commercial products in MO
commercial products in MO
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
NEW ENTRIES-MISSOURI MATH COALITION
Please share this information with your local
representatives and school board members.
There's an informational flyer available
there that you can print up and distribute.
UNITED WE STAND!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
DESE and METS are supporting this?
Everyday Math and Investigations are
two of the Elementary Programs given
(see #8 at above link)
The math programs listed there are the same
programs in the report
Committee for a Review of the Evaluation Data
on the Effectiveness of NSF-Supported and Commercially
Generated Mathematics Curriculum Materials
In response to our charge, the committee finds that:
The corpus of evaluation studies as a whole across the 19 programs studied does not permit one to determine the effectiveness of individual programs with high degree of certainty, due to the restricted number of studies for any particular curriculum, limitations in the array of methods used, and the uneven quality of the studies.
Therefore, according to our charge, we recommend that:
No second phase of this evaluation review should be conducted to determine the effectiveness of any particular program or set of curricular programs dependent on the current database.
Your tax dollars are at work, promoting these
commercial products in MO
Another Study including Investigations
And check out this district's savings after dropping EDM:
Friday, February 6, 2009
Please Voice Your Opinion
Missouri's weak state math standards and assessments are misleading school districts to choose mediocre instructional materials, believing that they will help students perform better on required mediocre state exams.
Look at the programs reviewed and the conclusions made by the Mathematical Sciences Education Board. Then scroll down here to see the list of "approved mathematics curricula" for eMints/METS classroom grants today.
The Algebra I "End of Course Exam" is not what high school math teachers would consider Algebra I.
We need truth in labeling!
Don't take my word for it - ASK teachers or college faculty in your area for their opinions.
If you feel that there is a problem which must be addressed, PLEASE WRITE:
Missouri House of Representatives
(Look for Members of Committees involved in Education)
Missouri Senate
(Look for Members of Committees involved in Education)
Correspondence to the State Board of Education should be addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Education with a request to forward it to individual Board members. Missouri State Board of Education
Please consider copying your correspondence to the Missouri Math Coalition and to your local School Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How does funding intented for educational technology affect school math programs?
Grant program-approved mathematics curriculum models Missouri METS Coalition/Alliance
"Competitive priority will be given to applicants who have implemented National Science Foundation (NSF) funded mathematics and/or science curriculum that is research-based and standards-based."
Mathematics – Eligible mathematics curricula include the following:
Elementary Mathematics
a. Everyday Mathematics®
b. Investigations in Number, Data and Space®
c. Math Trailblazers™
Middle School (Junior High School) Mathematics
a. Connected Mathematics 2™
b. Mathematics in Context®
c. MathScape: Seeing and Thinking Mathematically™
d. MATH Thematics
High School Mathematics
a. Contemporary Mathematics in Context©
b. Interactive Mathematics Program™
c. MATH Connections®: A Secondary
Core Mathematics Curriculum
d. Mathematics: Modeling Our World
e. SIMMS: Integrated Mathematics
Does this mean that if a school district wants to write a grant for badly needed technology, they have to have adopted these mediocre math materials?
I truly hope not! It's just wrong!!
Look at the programs reviewed and the conclusions made by the Mathematical Sciences Education Board. Then scroll down here to see the list of "approved mathematics curricula" for eMints/METS classroom grants today.
The Algebra I "End of Course Exam" is not what high school math teachers would consider Algebra I.
We need truth in labeling!
Don't take my word for it - ASK teachers or college faculty in your area for their opinions.
If you feel that there is a problem which must be addressed, PLEASE WRITE:
Missouri House of Representatives
(Look for Members of Committees involved in Education)
Missouri Senate
(Look for Members of Committees involved in Education)
Correspondence to the State Board of Education should be addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Education with a request to forward it to individual Board members. Missouri State Board of Education
Please consider copying your correspondence to the Missouri Math Coalition and to your local School Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How does funding intented for educational technology affect school math programs?
Grant program-approved mathematics curriculum models Missouri METS Coalition/Alliance
"Competitive priority will be given to applicants who have implemented National Science Foundation (NSF) funded mathematics and/or science curriculum that is research-based and standards-based."
Mathematics – Eligible mathematics curricula include the following:
Elementary Mathematics
a. Everyday Mathematics®
b. Investigations in Number, Data and Space®
c. Math Trailblazers™
Middle School (Junior High School) Mathematics
a. Connected Mathematics 2™
b. Mathematics in Context®
c. MathScape: Seeing and Thinking Mathematically™
d. MATH Thematics
High School Mathematics
a. Contemporary Mathematics in Context©
b. Interactive Mathematics Program™
c. MATH Connections®: A Secondary
Core Mathematics Curriculum
d. Mathematics: Modeling Our World
e. SIMMS: Integrated Mathematics
Does this mean that if a school district wants to write a grant for badly needed technology, they have to have adopted these mediocre math materials?
I truly hope not! It's just wrong!!
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.
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