Well written article from Alternet about the math common core. Makes a lot of great points.

[greatlaurel]

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.alternet.org/education/why-latest-trendy-approach-learning-math-driving-students-and-their-families-tears?paging=off&current_page=1#bookmark

These two quotes illustrate why the math common core is a disaster

"I fear the mathematicians who designed this newest new math may have forgotten that second-graders are not abstract thinkers. Truth be told, most 7-year-olds don’t care about learning many different ways to solve a problem. They can’t handle several variables at once in a word problem. They just want to know how to get an answer. So this newest new math approach may not align with what we know about child development."

"I’m not qualified to debate the new math approach versus the “learn your math facts” approach. But there has to be something wrong when two of my grandkids have declared themselves math haters and no good at math by second grade."

This article underscores the points madfloridian has been making.

[AllyCat]

1. I despised the math garbage my second grader brought home.

They even directed parents to not correct the kids' erroneous "answers" and let them get it wrong.

[greatlaurel]

2. Did your child's school do Everyday Mathmetics?

My kids' school adopted Everyday Mathematics for their math curriculum many years ago. It was awful. Now that it "aligns" with Common Core, I am sure it is even worse. It guarantees that parents cannot help their kids with their math homework. We did what the parents in the article did and taught our kids how to do basic math at home.

I did not realize EM was a product of the University of Chicago, until I clicked the link in the article. It is a terrible curriculum and confuses kids who do not think in numbers.

Has your child been subjected to the "lattice" multiplication method yet? Both our kids could not do lattice. It drove them crazy. What a nasty form of mental torture. Not to be a total crank about lattice, it may be useful for kids who do not get multiplication the regular way. We told them to not worry about it and just do multiplication the way we taught them.

[lunasun]

3. Oh jeez are they using that U of C Everyday mathematics again?

I wrote here years ago when we had at it at Duncan's ground zero point
About how one of my kids had a 2digit number divided by another 2 digit number problem and the way they were showing him how to get the answer at some point involved a 3 digit number!!!
We are done now yes they were all A students yet never learning anything
So we had to bit the bullet and pay for private schools. We also both have our adult summers back as that was spent tag team teaching them what they should have been learning during the school year when they were in public school Kids are much happier and they are excelling in schools that are teaching not testing
Sad part not many can afford what we did and we are strained ourselves by this burdened cost, and our kids were actually getting. 'it '( even though it was a very poor method).
Many don't grasp it and are left totally confused by these methods and of course never learning the basics. One teacher admitted she did not know what the book was trying to show during a class lesson
Duncan did so much damage in Illinois with this kind of curriculum not only cps but influencing the suburban counties surrounding Chicago . Now the whole country is getting this crap

[greatlaurel]

5. It never went away, unfortunately,

We live in a rural area so private schools were not an option. We spent a lot of time tutoring our kids. It worked for us, because we were both well educated and had the ability to help our kids. So many of our rural kids just do not have anyone to help them. They end up thinking they are not good at math, thanks to to Everyday Mathematics curriculum. There was not a parent who did not hate it that they could not help their kids.

At least when our kids were little the horrid curriculum was limited to math. Now thanks to Common Core the same thing is being done to every subject.

How does someone like Arne Duncan keep getting more and more power? He is a total nut case.

Thanks for your insights!

[lunasun]

8. I feel for areas like you describe . Pushed in a corner and yes I still look at all that tutoring we

both did thinking of how we could have better spent time with the kids but as you said it works .

The areas whether by location or economic demographics where there is no alternative to get out makes it even more insidious.
Yes it went beyond math before we got out of Duncanland -beware the history - social studies it was all answers to the test and made as much (non)sense as the math with absolutely no context even understanding the event really, let alone the relation to what was happening around it

Did I mention the district is praised for its high test scores? That makes it a desirable school area they say now ! This will be coming to small towns soon if not already as test scores trump all other objectives.

People always think it can't happen here and we have the final say but it creeps in slowly and before you know it the majority of kids are confused or disgusted or the bright ones may wonder is that all there is but have little resource in school to explore outside the box.

They cut back on the gifted programs too before we left
Most certainly did not want any child out of step with the program
or asking too many questions !

[Ka hrnt]

4. The field of education is remarkably bad at learning from its mistakes.

And by "remarkably bad" I mean, "It doesn't learn at all."

The new math failed miserably twice before. Sure, you can blame it on a "lack of teacher training" OR you could realize that it's just a bad idea. Teach kids the easy/easier way, then once they know they can do it, then you explain why the rules work the way they do. Simple.

I also take issue with the statement that "The larger problem is that American schools do not produce strong math students..." That's just not true. When these companies are complaining they can't find anyone to fill the jobs they're offering, they're more likely saying "We can't find anyone willing to take these jobs at these salaries we're offering."

[greatlaurel]

7. Great links! Thanks!

"The new math failed miserably twice before. Sure, you can blame it on a "lack of teacher training" OR you could realize that it's just a bad idea. Teach kids the easy/easier way, then once they know they can do it, then you explain why the rules work the way they do. Simple."

We should shout this from the rooftops. Very well said. Hope you don't mind if I use this paragraph in the future.

I absolutely agree with you that it is bunk about not enough good math students, along with all the STEM graduates. The fact that the GOP has slashed funding for research is a disgrace that gets little of no recognition by the media. These lies become so pervasive it creeps into articles like this. “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” -Mark Twain

[femmocrat]

6. Excellent article! Thanks!

I used to have to "volunteer" for after-school tutoring. I was the art teacher. I had no clue how to teach the math that they were assigned. Yes, I could do the math problems in my head or the "old-fashioned" way, but was completely at a loss about the methods of problem-solving that were being taught.

I have also seen children crying during the standardized tests because they get so frustrated. There is too much pressure on little kids today.

[lunasun]

9. And since they will never be able to do the math in their head the old fashion way as you call it

imagine how low functioning they will be as consumers

And poor employment opportunities too
Sad

[greatlaurel]

11. I feel so bad for the kids. It just wrong to put corporate profits ahead of the kids.

I hope the Common Core/High Stakes Testing onslaught awakens the sleeping giant of parents. They have the power to squash this nonsense.

[3catwoman3]

10. Relatively recently, In The Lounge, IIRC...

...someone posted the following statement about what math can feel like for those of us not naturally adept in this area. I liked it so much I memorized it -

Q: If you have 4 apples and 7 pencils, how many apples will fit on the roof?
A: Purple. Because aliens don't wear hats.

My final marking period of math in my senior year of high school was an overview of calculus. The teacher handed us a skinny little black book, and announced cheerfully, "Here. This is all self explanatory."

She was wrong. Very, very, very wrong.

[mopinko]

12. so because parents are frustrated, that makes it bad?

srsly?

i happen to know the head researcher at the erickson institute whose work is reflected in the new standards. when she does training workshops for primary teachers here, they leave amazed.
none of these examples particularly befuddle this old lady.

parents always have and always will complain about homework. that is not a valid reason to toss an otherwise good curriculum.
and btw, math scores in chicago are rising.
as are graduation rates.
and college attendance rates.

damn that rahm, and his u of c conspirators.


eta, 7 yo's are, actually, quite capable of abstract mathematical thinking. her research was built on groundbreaking discoveries of just how much babies know, including their understanding of math concepts.

[madfloridian]

13. I plan to respond to you more on those points later. Arne and Erikson Institute.

One thing though, I always had parents beg for homework. Most complain only when it is on overload or doesn't make sense. As to the abstract thinking...more on that later.

Arne Duncan and his policies for the nation have been tied to the Erikson Institute since his early Chicago days.

The New America Foundation article is actually a 2009 puff piece for Arne, so I disagree with it. However the article shows his very close ties to Erikson.

http://earlyed.newamerica.net/blogposts/2009/duncans_record_in_chicago-18612

[mopinko]

14. and that's a bad thing?

to be connected to one of the best child research centers on the planet?
and to implement their groundbreaking research in the classroom?

do you even know who they are? i mean, actually, who they are?

[mopinko]

15. can you please specify what you disagree w in that article?

puff piece? citing vetted research is puff?

do you distrust the university of chicago also?

and btw, rahm has furthered the early childhood agenda that arne started.
that was part of the package that led to the strike, full day kindergarten for all kids, and expanded early childhood programs.

chicago schools are already on the upswing. hmm. i wonder what caused that?
this will bear very sweet fruit.