tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post3395125591166236734..comments2024-03-28T23:07:35.632-07:00Comments on Cliff Mass Weather Blog: Is Mediocre Math Good Enough for Seattle Public Schools?Cliff Mass Weather Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948649423540350788noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-21637818930478023342014-08-10T20:13:19.996-07:002014-08-10T20:13:19.996-07:00I don't think that mediocre math is good enoug...I don't think that mediocre math is good enough to teach kids the right way to solve math problems. I think, this is the right time for them to focus on <a href="http://www.msainstitute.com/building-a-solid-math-foundation-thru-singapore-math" rel="nofollow">Singapore Math</a>.James Abramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13970758040515187677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-71108105934231413402014-05-29T16:47:57.402-07:002014-05-29T16:47:57.402-07:00As a parent at Schmitz Park Elementary, I am fight...As a parent at Schmitz Park Elementary, I am fighting to protect Singapore Math at our school. I am in opposition to the Math Adoption Committee’s recommendation to implement the enVision Math Program as the new math curriculum for all elementary schools and strongly support the continuation of our Singapore Math-based curriculum and the rigor it has created for our students.<br /><br />In 2007, our teaching staff determined Singapore Math was the best way to teach math. We are proud to be a part of a community who identifies Mathematics Mastery as a key element in elementary education. Our families, past and present, have supported the development and advancement of Singapore Math for our children. This commitment has required persistent fundraising and we are incredibly fortunate that through the generosity of families, and later the District, we have grown this program at Schmitz Park into what it is today.<br /><br />As a PTA, we have asked the Board Directors and District Staff to support our choice and respect the investment we have made in Singapore Math at Schmitz Park and take action on one of these alternatives:<br />1. Reject the Math Adoption Committee’s recommendation of enVision and adopt Math in Focus as the new K-5 Math Curriculum.<br />2. Approve a Dual-Adoption giving schools the choice to implement enVision – OR – Math in Focus<br />3. Amend Policy No. 2020 on the Waiver of Basic Instructional Materials to allow schools using, or desiring to use, a Singapore Math-based curriculum like Math in Focus and ensure funding will be provided from the district to support an approved alternative math curriculum.<br /><br />Schmitz Park has worked hard for 7 years to build, develop and achieve the results we see year over year. Those results were hard earned and completely driven by the passion of teachers and the buy-in from parents who believe in Singapore Math. Imagine what all schools could accomplish with support from District leaders.<br /><br />Depending on the final vote, our fight may continue past June 4th.Emily Giaquintanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-91933839608548331142014-05-21T13:38:32.719-07:002014-05-21T13:38:32.719-07:00This is another reason why we need better math ins...This is another reason why we need better math instruction:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27442541<br /><br />The US falls behind most developed nations, even when you correlate for family income.Mark Spaurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-29027119463688174162014-05-21T00:15:22.347-07:002014-05-21T00:15:22.347-07:00Never attribute to malice (or corruption) what can...Never attribute to malice (or corruption) what can be adequately explained by incompetence (or stupidity).<br /><br />I expect the level of thought with these members amounts to this:<br />1. "Bill Gates is smart and also very rich"<br />2. "Bill Gates wants Common Core, and he is rich and smart so he must be right"<br />3. "Which textbooks would Bill Gates want us to have?"<br />Westside guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07171473508596734156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-49065456896675127942014-05-20T21:41:26.576-07:002014-05-20T21:41:26.576-07:00Has anyone "followed the money" to find ...Has anyone "followed the money" to find out where possible kickbacks, payoffs, or conflict-of-interest-cash has flowed, i.e., audited the board members? Making that many bad decisions, for that long, smacks of either weapons-grade ideology-driven stupid, or ordinary Old-City Corruption.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-91241262781530715222014-05-20T12:20:38.065-07:002014-05-20T12:20:38.065-07:00I also received the swift dismissal from Mr. Marti...I also received the swift dismissal from Mr. Martin-Morris, saying exactly the same thing previous comments mentioned. I responded that if dual or triple adoption is not feasible, they why not just implement single adoption of Math in Focus or JUMP? That would seem to be a better option anyways, as it ensures that all elementary students get good math textbooks. I got no swift reply to my reply, however ...Mike Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-11087341008905562092014-05-20T09:36:33.710-07:002014-05-20T09:36:33.710-07:00I also sent a comment to all school board members,...I also sent a comment to all school board members, and received just one reply: a swift dismissal from Mr. Martin-Morris, saying the same thing he told Tara, and arguing that dual adoption wasn't feasible because kids move around between schools and it wouldn't work to have two different books.Kristinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-79756117404137824482014-05-20T06:52:44.014-07:002014-05-20T06:52:44.014-07:00Thank you Dr Mass. Your efforts to help Seattle c...Thank you Dr Mass. Your efforts to help Seattle children learn math have been tireless. Everyone reading your blog needs to email the Seattle School Board members and urge them to vote for inclusion of the Math In Focus text. Big Wavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12818648672772663106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-42890729024874196162014-05-19T21:44:48.396-07:002014-05-19T21:44:48.396-07:00Tara,
Martin-Morris has been a very poor schoo...Tara,<br /> Martin-Morris has been a very poor school board member in many ways and has consistently been on the wrong side of the math issue....cliffCliff Mass Weather Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13948649423540350788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-35460564006368611722014-05-19T21:36:33.971-07:002014-05-19T21:36:33.971-07:00Here is my data point: just sent my comments to th...Here is my data point: just sent my comments to the school board member for my area and received a swift and dismissive reply. So much for a public process. He basically said they chose the curriculum that best aligned with the common core (while admitting none of the options perfectly align), and a dual option is too expensive. Period.<br /><br />Please contact your school board member!!! Particularly if it is Martin-Morris. He apparently need to hear more from his constituents.Taranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-90702494397650678472014-05-19T20:35:28.847-07:002014-05-19T20:35:28.847-07:00The Drennans -
there are 2 sets of research you ...The Drennans - <br /><br />there are 2 sets of research you can do, both will take work. <br /><br />I.) google around on what Professor Mass and dan dempsey have done online for the last 4+ years - you will find lots of links to lots of good stuff. <br /><br />II.) look at the test results for these various state math exams, broken out by income. poor kids from reformie districts do horribly on these tests when they're force fed reformie math. (Seattle!) <br /><br />finally, know your audience. if you're trying to put together a persuasive case with a bunch of reformies, I'd stick to the 2nd set of research and I'd attack the reformies as more interested in their own out of touch careers than dealing with reality - they have plenty of their phake education 'research' to back up their phake reality of ... ha ha ha ...higher order thinking. <br /><br />Seattle09Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-13166955646235212782014-05-19T19:27:18.781-07:002014-05-19T19:27:18.781-07:00Thanks very much for an excellent blog, Cliff.
I ...Thanks very much for an excellent blog, Cliff.<br /><br />I teach math at Ballard High in Seattle, and I'm tired of having large numbers of students in high school who can't do basic arithmetic (times tables, and often even addition tables, simplifying, adding, and multiplying fractions, etc.), and I want improvement! I know what elementary and middle school kids need to learn, and I know what they're not learning. I want the best math texts we can get!<br /><br />I have been using and promoting use of explicit math instruction (often called direct instruction) for years. I have been successful, based on the scores of my students on state tests and AP Calculus tests, and there are many other examples in our area of tremendous success using explicit instruction.<br /><br />I'm upset with the recommendation of the adoption committee. First of all, the composition of the committee is suspect. I applied and wasn't selected; I suspect that the administration simply didn't want people like me on the committee. I think that they didn't want the kind of recommendation that I would make (and that the School Board would like).<br /><br />Second, the School Board policy calls for consideration of public input. Well, perhaps the committee did "consider" it before they disregarded it. I agree with the majority of the public input, and I provided some of it; I wanted Jump Math or Math in Focus.<br /><br />Third, the School Board policy calls for the adoption to be based on benchmarking from similar districts and other sources. The committee didn't consider benchmarking (other than comments from some committee members who were personally familiar with some situations). There is lots of data available from schools around here that supports use of explicit instruction materials. The committee has excuses for not using that or other data, but the Board called for them to use it!<br /><br />Directors Peters, Patu, Peaslee, and McLaren want to do what their constituents elected them to do. I want that too! A dual adoption of Envision and Math in Focus is the best we can do under the circumstances. If, as Cliff suggests, they could add Jump Math to the mix, that would be even better!<br /><br />Ted Nuttingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-82086090561597595002014-05-19T17:21:45.988-07:002014-05-19T17:21:45.988-07:00One or more Board members may add an amendment aft...One or more Board members may add an amendment after this motion is made on Wednesday (they are unlikely to make an amendment Wednesday and none are posted so far). <br /><br />I suspect this will indeed happen.<br /><br />The Board needs to hear from parents about what THEY want.<br /><br />I note that the motion also seems to limit the ability for schools to get a waiver to use other curriculum. Other schools have been using Singapore and Saxon math curriculum to great success but the district seems determined that all schools must use the same curriculum.<br /><br />Blame the ridiculous Common Core for this.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-8515997058440546642014-05-19T13:09:07.913-07:002014-05-19T13:09:07.913-07:00I taught my child with Singapore Math, and advance...I taught my child with Singapore Math, and advanced her a year over one school year + a summer. The books are excellent, very clear, and also very inexpensive. If you have the time or a tutor it's well worth doing, even if your child is getting As in math in Seattle Schools.<br />Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16260807460417787614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-22302240527887779222014-05-19T12:57:23.872-07:002014-05-19T12:57:23.872-07:00At our Shoreline school, my daughter has an envisi...At our Shoreline school, my daughter has an envision text book. Some of the word problems are rather convoluted and well, poorly worded. So this observation is consistent with the "excessive verbiage" comment. With the discussions from Cliff on Seattle, I wondered what evidence there was to support envision-- as it seems to be popular. So why is it popular? And Cliff, being an academic, what are some peer-reviewed references to support your position? i.e. if I'm going to goto a principal, the Shoreline school board or to the new Shoreline superintendent, and argue this isn't the best text book, I'll need a good case supported by reputable literature. Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02414198550493495245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-76986068490403045832014-05-19T07:47:56.635-07:002014-05-19T07:47:56.635-07:00When my daughter was learning division in 4th grad...When my daughter was learning division in 4th grade it was the longest most complicated way I could imagine doing it. She is in 6th grade now and is in honors math but still has trouble dividing. Also why don't they teach the times tables. Multiplication is taught in a random way. No reciting of times tables though some teachers did it at the end of class, to their credit. If they know 6 X7 equals 42 they don't understand that adding 7 to 42 equals 49. All mustiplication is learned in a random way. Go Cliff.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12592890852785360980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-4816646742565130892014-05-19T07:40:25.979-07:002014-05-19T07:40:25.979-07:00Thank you, Cliff. Jump Math really appealed to me ...Thank you, Cliff. Jump Math really appealed to me when I reviewed the materials last year. Math in Focus was my second choice. EnVision did not make the cut for me. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03524218077491788526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-55117343910725976232014-05-19T05:48:46.562-07:002014-05-19T05:48:46.562-07:00The MAC had no idea about JUMP Math alignment with...The MAC had no idea about JUMP Math alignment with Common Core as the publisher only sent the currently aligned texts for grades 4, 5, 6. The grades k, 1, 2, 3 Common Core aligned texts will be ready for the coming school year. The MAC did not even request copies of the current k, 1, 2, 3 texts from JUMP.<br /><br />To improve a system requires the intelligent application of relevant data. JUMP has proven efficacy in large double blind comparisons. <br /><br />The SPS apparently prefers dealing from a stacked deck rather than using data or actually examining all the books under consideration.<br /><br />The NSF funded largely lousy math books for decades and districts kept buying to the publishers delight. JUMP is the most inexpensive and has a proven track record of success.<br /><br />-- Dan Dempsey<br />Washington State Board of Education Math Advisory Panelists for the development of the 2008 Math Standards.<br />I am currently teaching from JUMP grade 8 and grade 6 materials in rural Nevada. The Smartboard files are very well done.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-5159906438495965852014-05-18T23:52:01.984-07:002014-05-18T23:52:01.984-07:00I'm astounded. After all of that hard work to...I'm astounded. After all of that hard work to replace Everyday Math. We had the chance to put in a GREAT math program. What on earth are they thinking?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051656036306718191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-36521590903909359532014-05-18T23:00:05.953-07:002014-05-18T23:00:05.953-07:00I do not have any kids, so I do not have a direct ...I do not have any kids, so I do not have a direct stake in the decision, but keep on fighting the good fight.<br /><br />It amazes me how so many people want to coddle kids thorough their learning, especially in subjects that are more discrete, such as math and science. A whole generation of kids will be useless for any practical jobs and will have to settle for mediocre jobs and opportunities. No wonder so many are pushing to raise the minimum wage. I guess we need to prepare for the next generation.ryamkajrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08268910924570439599noreply@blogger.com