Math Current Events at Thompson SD and Turner Middle School
Mathematics is one of the few subjects left that has right and wrong answers and has a foundation set in stone based upon formulas, relationships and systems that have remained unchanged for years. Interesting, then, that the teaching of this topic is constantly evolving and finds itself the topic of so many heated conversations. We find ourselves teaching a new and improved mathematics, getting ready to implementing new standards, and completely re-vamping the way we grade this new curriculum. That's a whole lot of changed in a very short period of time. Not that change is a bad thing. The new updated grading system will be a true indicator of kids' actual mathematical abilities, and how well they know the standards being taught. The changes taking place are in response to the fact that a student can have an A in math, and yet be scoring unsatisfactory on their CSAPs, Acuity and other "indicative" tests.
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I was just talking to a friend about this very same thing. He said, "I can't help my kid in math anymore, because what I thought was a right or wrong answer, now has a whole lot more added to it". He's worried about how to explain his math thinking when it's not something that is right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, tell him to try GRADING a math test these days! :) No, seriously, it is awesome that there is more thought integrated into the math program, it really enriches the kids' learning. But trying to help your kids when you learned math how we did? Fagettboutit. :)
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