New Math?

     Can I weigh in on the Common Core standards?  They are a return to some of the methods that found success about 15 - 20 years ago.  They are really not new ideas or methods.  They create students that can think and problem solve.  They are more difficult to teach and for the student to build up into the confidence and ability.  Once they can do it, they will find their ability to do higher level problems easier to learn because they have the concepts of numbers. 

    There is also a lot of writing to describe how they thought through a problem in all subjects.  Math seems to be one that most people are getting upset about though, because students need to not only solve the problem correctly, but explain their thought process they used to get there.  As they learn different methods to solve problems, parents and students are frustrated that they can't just revert back to the non-thinking methods of an algorithm.  Memorize the 'facts' put things into a column by pace value, or use 'long division' to get the answer.  Be correct every time and you know Math, right?

     I can tell you from personal experience that students can not problem solve in real world situations unless you tell them which operation that they need to use.  They really don't know math, but they can do an algorithm correctly.  In fact they will get the answer every time, but may not be able to tell you why that answer works.   Then they can just set up the algorithm and 'solve' the problem.  They actually didn't use logic to figure out what they needed to do, they didn't think, they just wrote the numbers with the operation and did what their teacher told them to do.  'Word Problems' were probably your worse aspect in Math, and that trend has continued forward to today.  It is not about how fast the train has traveled, it is about how you think.  I know for sure that I would want my daughter to be able to reason and think through her problems in life.  She may never see or experience the problems that she sees in a Math book, but long as she learned methods of problem solving,  thinking through a problem, and persevering until she got an answer, then she will be successful in any field she chooses. 

    To give you an idea of what I am talking about:  Ask a student to subtract 299 from 300 and they will tell you it is impossible because the 299 was mentioned first, or give you an integer as an answer if they are in a higher level math course.  If you tell them that they need to write 300 - 299 and find the answer they will start borrowing from the '3' (no understanding that it is 300), then borrow from the new 10 created (not understanding that they made it into a 100), making it a '9', then finally subtracting from the new '10' they just created, and find that 10 - 9 = 1.  Shouldn't they know that 299 is only 1 away from 300 and so the answer is 1?  Shouldn't they understand simple problem solving and methods of thinking about numbers? 

     I have seen the comments regarding the Math portion of the standards and the frustrations from parents that don't see the algorithm that they think of as sacred.  How can students learn to add/subtract/multiply/divide without setting up the problem the way I learned to do it?  How can a student understand Math if they can't just do a problem by rote method? 

    I also understand these frustrations, because education has been known to throw out the baby with the bath water.  It is typical for the politicians/education reformers to get a bee in their bonnets and then make policies that change education.  When this happens it comes down stream to the class room where teachers are told that they need to teach that way and don't ever teach the other way.  Then 5 or 6 years pass and then a new thing comes down and they tell us to stop teaching that way and teach the "new" way.  It gets frustrating.  Believe it or not, teachers are not in control of most of the curriculum taught in the class.  It is given to them by the administrators, school board, reformers, and politicians.  Teachers take what they are given and try to teach the best they can using what they are given. 
 
    Most teachers do not want to throw away methods that work.  We squirrel them away and hold on to them to bring them out when needed.  I know most teachers will not stop teaching the algorithm in math if they can help it.  They will teach students EVERY possible way to make them successful students.   The longevity of a teacher increases the number of tricks up their sleeve they have to use.  You should see my bag of tricks. 

   

Donations to Schools

I was reading my California Educator newsletter (CTA) and saw a question regarding donations to schools.  Is it fair to expect parents to donate money to schools? (pg22)  They had a proponent as well as a an opponent for donating money to schools.  Please read the article here:  California Educator on-line.

How would this make me incredulous?

One reason I'm incredulous is that schools NEED to ask for donations to provide great experiences for students.  The opponent is correct.  We do pay taxes and are expected to teach rigorous standards.  These standards (now with the Common Core) require computer hardware and software updates, new trainings, program development, brave teachers, and full buy in from students and parents.  These things require money and time.   There goes our budget; even the new improved budget for under privileged districts from prop 30.   This might be one reason we are lacking in funding to make a well balanced student with field trips, performing arts, and hands-on experiences. 

 Another reason I'm incredulous is the question is a loaded one.  EXPECT parents to donate money?  No, I don't think that happens in my experience.  (See the proponent's argument.)  We HOPE that the parents can help our school to do the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) activities, field trips, computer programs, technologies, and experiences with a donation.  Why do we hope, but not expect?  As teachers we know the meaning of a dollar.  (Answer - can't buy milk, bread, or even get to work without several of them to rub together)  We don't expect parents to donate money if it means that they can't take care of their family.  We hope that they can find the resources to help, because the students need those experiences.  In the end if the students cannot donate and the funding is not there, the teacher will try to make a way for it happen in another way.  It may even come out of our pocket and abilities to feed our family.  Why?  Teachers care.  I really don't know a teacher that doesn't care about educating students the best way they know how.  Having parents help making a positive education is what we expect, not a donation.

 Parents help make their local school what they want it to be.  Parents have spots on School Site Council to decide how the school's funding is spent.  Parents have the ability to be members of the PTA/PTO to decide how donated and fund raising is spent.  Donations do send a message... we want this to happen, or we don't want this to happen at our school.  Parents need to take ownership of their local school, because when they do their students achieve higher and have better opportunities.   If parents are not involved, then the students don't do as well, there are more discipline problems, programs are not funded, and students do not receive the extra experiences that they need.  If a parent is not involved they really can’t complain about their student missing out on opportunities, because often those opportunities can be had if the parents and teachers work together to make them happen.  If they cannot donate they can ask for donations from others, or businesses.  When schools ask for a donation to help with something, they don't expect a donation, but they expect support from the parents that should be a stakeholder in what the school provides.  It is about priorities.