http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5KDyvlG3Q

"The important is to understand what you're doing, rather than get the
right answer"

   [:)]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I enjoyed this Canadian 3rd grade teacher's perspective on reform math:
http://www.carynswark.wordpress.com

vicky

Wow...I really didn't put all of those question marks in, sorry!


-----Original Message-----
From: WeileMom@...
To: beyondterc@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 7:26 am
Subject: Re: [beyondterc] Math drills







Hi, I just wanted to add something here about worksheets.?

My son is in 4th grade now and this is his third year suffering through Everyday
Math.?

Anyway, as with all EM victims he has had a lot of trouble memorizing the
multiplication tables.? I was giving him worksheets but he still didn't seem to
be progressing very well.? I thought back to when I learned multiplication in
school and realized that besides lots of verbal drill we also did a ton of
copying from our math book .? I decided to have him start copying the math
problems onto a separate piece of paper to see if it would help.? Though he
hated me for it at first, it is actually working!? By copying the entire
problem- 4x8= and then answering it he's seeing the entire fact in his head
instead a few disjointed numbers.? I'm sure this won't work for everyone but I
thought I would throw it out there for those of you who have children
struggling.

By the way, remember when worksheets were rare and they smelled like wet ink??
And the color was a kind of purple??

---Nicole

-----Original Message-----
From: vasandberg <vsandberg@...>
To: beyondterc@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:34 pm
Subject: [beyondterc] Math drills

For those of you supplementing and/or reteaching, here is a great free
worksheet site:

http://www.math-drills.com

Vicky

__________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi again,

my daughter is moving into middle school next year and the schools
here in District 1 in lower Manhattan use mostly Connected Math. From
what I heard it's the continuation of Terc and the view kids I have
interviewed who go to those schools say they don't have a math book
-in middles school... I can't believe that, but I know it's true.

Does anyone know more about Connected Math from first hand experience?

Thanks so much!

Daniela

It's too bad it's hard for everyone to find each other on a state and
national level.  It would make an impact, showing how many districts
are in turmoil because they picked these programs.

I have solved my math war problem by moving my child to Catholic
School. However, I understand that solution only solves my problem,
so I'd like to continue to try to help out the other folks in my town
who remain in the bad math situation.

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, No Fuzzy Math <nofuzzymath@...>
wrote:
>
> It's called Connected Math.
>
>   Stefanie
>
> luna_piena_nuova <daniela66@...> wrote:
>
>
> The NYC school district uses TERC as well. I've been fighting it as
I
> could but got no where. Now I feel like a total outsider in that
> school. At the end, my child is the one who suffers from that. And
> what's worse, next year she'll be in middle school and most schools
in
> District 1 -the East Village- use Continued Math (the middle school
> version of TERC).
>
> What to do about it??????? I don't know anymore.
>
> --- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "jmsokeefe" <jmsokeefe@> wrote:
> >
> > Dear All,
> >
> > Here in Ridgewood parents have been fighting TERC and Everyday
Math
> > for over a year. We have gotten coverage from the Bergen Record
and
> > the NY TIMES.
> >
> > Recently on one of our local town blogs, someone posted all the
other
> > districts who use Everyday Math and TERC as an advertisement for
> > those programs.
> >
> > It occured to me that there could be many other district out
there
> > who have parent groups fighting these programs that we have not
yet
> > heard about.
> >
> > One of my ideas would be for all of you to email Kathleen Carroll
of
> > the Bergen Record and ask her to do a followup article on the
math
> > wars and try to cover it as a statewide growing problem.
Ridgewood
> > shouldn't be used to advertise this stuff when clearly there are
> > considerable amounts of parents who are unhappy with it. The more
> > press coverage this issue gets the better.
> >
> > Carroll@
> >
> > You can look at this local blog run by the friends of the BOE to
see
> > what districts are now being touted for use of TERC and Everyday
Math.
> >
> > http://www.ridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
> >
> > If your district is on this list and you have a parent group
opposed
> > to it, please post a comment saying so. It gets my goat that
> > Ridgewood may be used to advertise TERC Investigations.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Joan O'Keefe
> > www.vormath.info
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>  __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>  __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

It's called Connected Math.

   Stefanie

luna_piena_nuova <daniela66@...> wrote:


The NYC school district uses TERC as well. I've been fighting it as I
could but got no where. Now I feel like a total outsider in that
school. At the end, my child is the one who suffers from that. And
what's worse, next year she'll be in middle school and most schools in
District 1 -the East Village- use Continued Math (the middle school
version of TERC).

What to do about it??????? I don't know anymore.

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "jmsokeefe" <jmsokeefe@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> Here in Ridgewood parents have been fighting TERC and Everyday Math
> for over a year. We have gotten coverage from the Bergen Record and
> the NY TIMES.
>
> Recently on one of our local town blogs, someone posted all the other
> districts who use Everyday Math and TERC as an advertisement for
> those programs.
>
> It occured to me that there could be many other district out there
> who have parent groups fighting these programs that we have not yet
> heard about.
>
> One of my ideas would be for all of you to email Kathleen Carroll of
> the Bergen Record and ask her to do a followup article on the math
> wars and try to cover it as a statewide growing problem. Ridgewood
> shouldn't be used to advertise this stuff when clearly there are
> considerable amounts of parents who are unhappy with it. The more
> press coverage this issue gets the better.
>
> Carroll@...
>
> You can look at this local blog run by the friends of the BOE to see
> what districts are now being touted for use of TERC and Everyday Math.
>
> http://www.ridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
>
> If your district is on this list and you have a parent group opposed
> to it, please post a comment saying so. It gets my goat that
> Ridgewood may be used to advertise TERC Investigations.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joan O'Keefe
> www.vormath.info
>





  __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
  __________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The NYC school district uses TERC as well. I've been fighting it as I
could but got no where.  Now I feel like a total outsider in that
school. At the end, my child is the one who suffers from that. And
what's worse, next year she'll be in middle school and most schools in
District 1 -the East Village- use Continued Math (the middle school
version of TERC).

What to do about it??????? I don't know anymore.


















--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "jmsokeefe" <jmsokeefe@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> Here in Ridgewood parents have been fighting TERC and Everyday Math
> for over a year.  We have gotten coverage from the Bergen Record and
> the NY TIMES.
>
> Recently on one of our local town blogs, someone posted all the other
> districts who use Everyday Math and TERC as an advertisement for
> those programs.
>
> It occured to me that there could be many other district out there
> who have parent groups fighting these programs that we have not yet
> heard about.
>
> One of my ideas would be for all of you to email Kathleen Carroll of
> the Bergen Record and ask her to do a followup article on the math
> wars and try to cover it as a statewide growing problem.  Ridgewood
> shouldn't be used to advertise this stuff when clearly there are
> considerable amounts of parents who are unhappy with it.  The more
> press coverage this issue gets the better.
>
> Carroll@...
>
> You can look at this local blog run by the friends of the BOE to see
> what districts are now being touted for use of TERC and Everyday Math.
>
> http://www.ridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
>
> If your district is on this list and you have a parent group opposed
> to it, please post a comment saying so.  It gets my goat that
> Ridgewood may be used to advertise TERC Investigations.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joan O'Keefe
> www.vormath.info
>

Hi, I just wanted to add something here about worksheets.?



My son is in 4th grade now and this is his third year suffering through Everyday
Math.?

Anyway, as with all EM victims he has had a lot of trouble memorizing the
multiplication tables.? I was giving him worksheets but he still didn't seem to
be progressing very well.? I thought back to when I learned multiplication in
school and realized that besides lots of verbal drill we also did a ton of
copying from our math book .? I decided to have him start copying the math
problems onto a separate piece of paper to see if it would help.? Though he
hated me for it at first, it is actually working!? By copying the entire
problem- 4x8= and then answering it he's seeing the entire fact in his head
instead a few disjointed numbers.? I'm sure this won't work for everyone but I
thought I would throw it out there for those of you who have children
struggling.

By the way, remember when worksheets were rare and they smelled like wet ink??
And the color was a kind of purple??

---Nicole

-----Original Message-----
From: vasandberg <vsandberg@...>
To: beyondterc@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:34 pm
Subject: [beyondterc] Math drills







For those of you supplementing and/or reteaching, here is a great free
worksheet site:

http://www.math-drills.com

Vicky





________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! -
http://mail.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For those of you supplementing and/or reteaching, here is a great free
worksheet site:

http://www.math-drills.com

Vicky

Elizabeth Carson, at NYCHOLD, would be a really good person to
contact with this request.  http://www.nychold.com/

Unfortunately, many of us fight lonely battles.  Sometimes we are
victims of the divide and conquer strategy.  Personally I am in a
very large urban school district and there just isn't yet any way we
have been able to find each other to create a critical mass.

Vicky

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "jmsokeefe" <jmsokeefe@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> Here in Ridgewood parents have been fighting TERC and Everyday Math
> for over a year.  We have gotten coverage from the Bergen Record
and
> the NY TIMES.
>
> Recently on one of our local town blogs, someone posted all the
other
> districts who use Everyday Math and TERC as an advertisement for
> those programs.
>
> It occured to me that there could be many other district out there
> who have parent groups fighting these programs that we have not yet
> heard about.
>
> One of my ideas would be for all of you to email Kathleen Carroll
of
> the Bergen Record and ask her to do a followup article on the math
> wars and try to cover it as a statewide growing problem.  Ridgewood
> shouldn't be used to advertise this stuff when clearly there are
> considerable amounts of parents who are unhappy with it.  The more
> press coverage this issue gets the better.
>
> Carroll@...
>
> You can look at this local blog run by the friends of the BOE to
see
> what districts are now being touted for use of TERC and Everyday
Math.
>
> http://www.ridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/
>
> If your district is on this list and you have a parent group
opposed
> to it, please post a comment saying so.  It gets my goat that
> Ridgewood may be used to advertise TERC Investigations.
>
> Regards,
>
> Joan O'Keefe
> www.vormath.info
>

Dear All,

Here in Ridgewood parents have been fighting TERC and Everyday Math
for over a year.  We have gotten coverage from the Bergen Record and
the NY TIMES.

Recently on one of our local town blogs, someone posted all the other
districts who use Everyday Math and TERC as an advertisement for
those programs.

It occured to me that there could be many other district out there
who have parent groups fighting these programs that we have not yet
heard about.

One of my ideas would be for all of you to email Kathleen Carroll of
the Bergen Record and ask her to do a followup article on the math
wars and try to cover it as a statewide growing problem.  Ridgewood
shouldn't be used to advertise this stuff when clearly there are
considerable amounts of parents who are unhappy with it.  The more
press coverage this issue gets the better.

Carroll@...

You can look at this local blog run by the friends of the BOE to see
what districts are now being touted for use of TERC and Everyday Math.

http://www.ridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/

If your district is on this list and you have a parent group opposed
to it, please post a comment saying so.  It gets my goat that
Ridgewood may be used to advertise TERC Investigations.

Regards,

Joan O'Keefe
www.vormath.info

It's my blog. Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm glad there are others out
there with similar concerns. Thanks for sharing.

Daniela








--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, cluelessmom1 <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
>
> Blogs keep popping up all over the place.
>
> Here's a new one: http://theneighborhoodfuzzymath.blogspot.com/
> <http://theneighborhoodfuzzymath.blogspot.com/>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

THANK YOU soooo MUCH Rich!!!  :)

I appreciate your honest response.  I was hoping to hear that.  I am
headed over to Amazon to grab my copy right now.  :)

As a stay-at-home Mom who hasn't had any schooling since 1995 when I
received my Associates Degree, I feel really out of the loop.  I heard
the book was excellent for teaching ADULTS about math.  :)  LOL

Sometimes I think I need to go back through grade school and re-learn
everything.  After having two children I have HORRIBLE MOMMY BRAIN!!!
  hehehehehehehe

Thanks again Rich!

*HUGS*,
Heather  =)

Just bought this book myself a few days ago, after reading very favorable
reviews on it last spring. And although I have not gotten very far into it yet I
already am impressed with the content. As a long-time elementary school teacher
myself with a strong interest in how children learn mathematics & how best to
teach math, I have considered myself a fairly good math teacher over the years.
But this book is teaching me some stuff of which I was completely unaware,
especially as to what mathematics "is" (& "isn't"). I highly recommend you get
this book. It's not that expensive.

Rich Ham
Seattle, WA
______________________________________
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: sobofamily
   To: beyondterc@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 8:44 AM
   Subject: [beyondterc] Does Anyone Here HAVE This Book????


   Hello Everyone,

   I have been doing some research this morning and have come across a
   book that I would LOVE to own. BUT... I was curious if anyone here
   has purchased it, and if so, your THOUGHTS about it????

   Here is the ISBN: 0977985253
   aArithmetic for Parents / A Book for Grownups about Children's Mathematics

   I would love your insight on this book, OR any other book you could
   suggest to me that would help in my understanding of HOW to properly
   teach my son the Math he is NOT getting in school.

   Once again, Thank You to the person who suggested the
   WWW.SINGAPOREMATCH.COM website, it has been very helpful!!!! :)

   *HUGS*,
   Heather =)






------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   No virus found in this incoming message.
   Checked by AVG Free Edition.
   Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.9/1069 - Release Date: 10/13/2007
7:26 PM


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

AWSOME information, I've been reading all morning.  THANKS for sharing
this with us!!!  :)

*HUGS*,
Heather  =)

Hello Everyone,

I have been doing some research this morning and have come across a
book that I would LOVE to own.  BUT...  I was curious if anyone here
has purchased it, and if so, your THOUGHTS about it????

Here is the ISBN:  0977985253
aArithmetic for Parents / A Book for Grownups about Children's Mathematics


I would love your insight on this book, OR any other book you could
suggest to me that would help in my understanding of HOW to properly
teach my son the Math he is NOT getting in school.

Once again, Thank You to the person who suggested the
WWW.SINGAPOREMATCH.COM website, it has been very helpful!!!!  :)

*HUGS*,
Heather  =)

Blogs keep popping up all over the place.

Here's a new one: http://theneighborhoodfuzzymath.blogspot.com/
<http://theneighborhoodfuzzymath.blogspot.com/>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "Daniela66@..." <daniela66@...>
wrote:


Well, thanks for listening. I'm glad I found this group to share and
read
about other, similar stories from around the country. I'm afraid our
kids
are being brainwashed in this day and age and I suspect this has more
political reasons than not.

Daniela

---------
Hello Daniela, I haven't been here for a while. Advocating in our
schools can take away our time here on the boards to share with
others what's going on.

But it's worse than that. In my district there is so much negative
repurcussion that I've had to lay low.

Math may sound innocent, but it's big politics, I've learned.

There's a ton of material on the web for you to sift through. Start
with http://www.nychold.com

There are also grassroots parent groups for many districts.
California, by the way, used to have all that fuzzy math, but got rid
of it and improved their state standards. Too bad you had to come to
New York City. Although I must say NYC has its merits which likely
will outweigh this one problem. I live near NYC myself, and think
it's just wonderful.

Two years behind her grade level sounds just about right if she's
getting TERC. Before you do anything else, get her firmly established
in a math program outside of school.

I don't recommend tutoring that "fixes" what she gets in school.
Instead, I recommend a full replacement curriculum outside of school.
Singapore is a great solution. I, too, afterschooled my kids at home
in Singapore Math. Eventually, they got ahead of the school.

I also suggest reframing your view of your kid's free time. In Asian
countries, it's normal for kids to do extra math after school. I
think if as parents we adjust our expectations, it will be easier on
our kids. Who SAYS they have to have all this free time? All they do
is play on the computer anyway (LOL just a joke.)  I just don't think
it's so terrible they have to learn extra math at home. Could be
worse, right?

Once you finish Singapore grade 5, I suggest switching to another
curriculum, such as Saxon. I don't like the higher level Singapore
books that much. They delay algebra for far too long. But if you
switch to Saxon, be sure and supplement with challenging word
problems, perhaps from the Singapore books.

If you start your own blog or message board, be sure and alert
Elizabeth Carson who owns New York City Hold. She'll link to you.

When your district tells you you're the only one complaining, it's an
outright lie. NYC has been one of the biggest areas of controversy
for years and years. Get used to their lies.

Parents don't care because they don't really understand the problem.
Not everyone is as aware of math as you are, and many parents feel
that curriculum is the district's business. Still others are afraid
to speak up. And still others second-guess themselves. And then there
are others who like to think they're being modern and forward-
thinking. Some quietly support their school while tutoring their kid.
I find all of this understandable. But that's why reform math is
still in our schools.

I will also email you privately, with a subject line of "Terc in New
York City." Be on the lookout for it, okay?

Molly

Hi all,

I'm a mom in NYC school district and new to the group. My daughter, now in
5th grade, gets TERC math at her school. We moved here from California when
she was finishing 2nd grade. I had no idea what I was getting into at that
school which is generally praised for it's progressive character and parents
love it there.

Well, to make a long story short, my daughter has been deprived from all
kinds of basic math; in my opinion she is 2 years behind her grade level.
They still give word problems involving simple addition and subtraction for
homework - the SIMPLES one. They have what is called the "word problem of
the week" and think and talk about that for 5 days. So much time gets lost.
The whole curriculum is so weak and flat and boring, I'm shocked again and
again. They refuse to really subject these kids (5th graders) to any kind of
sophisticated,  more thought provocing mathematics.

I've been very outspoken and proactive in my approach of the school
administration and even contacted the Empowerment office here in New York.
I've been calling and calling and flooding both with emails - to no avail.
The will not budge, the will not listen, they will not modify, and will not
take a closer look at any other idea or enhancement.

It's like dealing with the most stuck up, old fashioned, conservative people
ever. Only they call themselves "progressive educators" and think they're
the ones who make the change for the better. In my opinion, they are trying
out something (on my child) which has no proven record to be successful and
they can not (and do not even try) to back up or explain why they are doing
it this way. No questions answered.

Since there are no textbooks, one never knows where they are going or what's
next. For homework help, the kids got "Investigations in number, data and
space", the flattest and most most annoying math book ever. Algorithm is
basically avoided throughout except for mentioning of it here an there....
The publisher and the book have received extensive criticism all over and
the book has even been pulled off the market in some areas, but they do not
care. And this is New York City where talking about. This is the East
Village in Downtown Manhattan.

We have been supplementing with Singapore math at home, still working with
books from 3rd and 4th grade cause she lacks so much. Studying with her in
the evenings is often stressful cause she's tired and frustrated over not
having this time to play and relax. It is entirely not fair to her that she
has to spend 6 hours a day in a school where she does not even get the
basics taught, and then spend her nights and weekends working with us. But
at least I'm hoping that we can fill in the cracks this way and hopefully it
will make a difference.

She's going to junior high next year and I'm really concerned that she'll be
totally overwhelmed. Then, on the other hand, it's hard to find a middle
school where they DONT do fuzzy math around here, so that will probably be
an issue in junior high as well. More Singapore books will have to be
ordered.

But the worst is, no other parents seem to care of be concerned at that
school. The school administration hold this against me, of course. I'm the
only one who says something. I've been thinking that this is probably more
of a cultural thing here in New York where parents are just so busy all the
time, so concerned with themselves and other, more pressing, daily survival
matters.

Well, thanks for listening. I'm glad I found this group to share and read
about other, similar stories from around the country. I'm afraid our kids
are being brainwashed in this day and age and I suspect this has more
political reasons than not.

Daniela


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Heather,

People on this list are from all over, although it does seem like
there are more on the East coast than elsewhere.  I'm from
Minnesota.  A while back we all sort of declared where we hailed form
and if you search the archives you might be able to find the thread.
Good luck finding some compatriots in your area.

I tried to coordinate summer math instruction with another family but
our schedules didn't jive.  Most of us just do it at home (after
school and/or during the summer).  Many of us have white boards in
our kitchen :-)

I'm one of the few who don't use a curriculum.  Periodically I
identify concepts I think my kids should know at the age they are at,
and I teach them in my own way.

Since your child is only in first grade one thing you really need to
be aware of going forward is that it is unlikely you child will be
taught the standard techniques (now elevated to "algorithms") for
doing basic arithmetic operations in EM.  Start early, with both
column and line addition and subtraction.  You'll get the hang of it!

Best of luck!  Welcome aboard!

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "sobofamily" <sobofamily@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Liz,
>
> Thanks soooo much for the "direction".  I checked out both and the
> Singapore Math seems to be right up our alley.  :)
>
> I was curious if anyone in here was located in the Central New York
> (Syracuse) area???  I have thought about trying to start some sort
of
> "Math Club" where the parents & kids could get together and work
> together to teach our kids all about MATH...  where the "Everyday
> Mathematics" program doesn't cover...  (IMO)
>
> There are a couple other Moms at school I know of who are pretty fed
> up with  EM too, but trying to get it replaced in the district will
> NEVER happen.  :(
>
> Any other thoughts and/or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.  :)
>
> *HUGS*,
> Heather  =)
>

Hi Liz,

Thanks soooo much for the "direction".  I checked out both and the
Singapore Math seems to be right up our alley.  :)

I was curious if anyone in here was located in the Central New York
(Syracuse) area???  I have thought about trying to start some sort of
"Math Club" where the parents & kids could get together and work
together to teach our kids all about MATH...  where the "Everyday
Mathematics" program doesn't cover...  (IMO)

There are a couple other Moms at school I know of who are pretty fed
up with  EM too, but trying to get it replaced in the district will
NEVER happen.  :(

Any other thoughts and/or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated.  :)

*HUGS*,
Heather  =)

Visit NYCHOLD.COM or google search Everyday Math on domain, nychold.com

purchase saxon math for homeschoolers or singapore math

teach your kid real math

everyday math is a mcmath program -- things its a real math meal but its
fast food and not good for you

K-5 is for fundamentals and saxon, houghton mifflin, singapore math will
teach your child that better than any NSF funded program like Everyday
Math (any version), TERC or Investigations in NUmber, Data, & Space,
Trailblazers ...

Liz

www.vormath.info <http://www.vormath.info>




--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "sobofamily" <sobofamily@...> wrote:
>
> <font color="purple"><font size=+1>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions as I am new here.
:)
>
> My name is Heather and I live in Central NYS. My son is a 1st Grader
> this year and they are starting the "Everyday Mathematics" program
> (they've been doing it for 5 years now).
>
> I am so skeptical, and I've been all over the internet trying to teach
> "myself" about this CRAZY program. How do the "old school" parents
> handle this? I feel like I need to go back to 1st grade myself. LOL
>
> All the teachers around here are so gung-go about it, but I just don't
> see it. The kids going into Middle School seem to be struggling with
> "Real Math"?
>
> So where are the members of this group located? How long has EM been
> in your school district, and how do you feel about it?
>
> I can't wait to meet everyone here and get some GREAT Feedback
> regarding EM. I am currently waiting for the Teacher's Edition 1st
> Grade Manual to be delivered to me. I was told it was vital to get
> the Teachers Manual in order to "comprehend" the work being sent home
> with my son. :)
>
> Thanks for your time, I greatly appreciate any input!
>
> *HUGS*,
> Heather =)
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

<font color="purple"><font size=+1>
Hello Everyone,

I wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions as I am new here.  :)

My name is Heather and I live in Central NYS.  My son is a 1st Grader
this year and they are starting the "Everyday Mathematics" program
(they've been doing it for 5 years now).

I am so skeptical, and I've been all over the internet trying to teach
"myself" about this CRAZY program.  How do the "old school" parents
handle this?  I feel like I need to go back to 1st grade myself.  LOL

All the teachers around here are so gung-go about it, but I just don't
see it.  The kids going into Middle School seem to be struggling with
"Real Math"?

So where are the members of this group located?  How long has EM been
in your school district, and how do you feel about it?

I can't wait to meet everyone here and get some GREAT Feedback
regarding EM.  I am currently waiting for the Teacher's Edition 1st
Grade Manual to be delivered to me.  I was told it was vital to get
the Teachers Manual in order to "comprehend" the work being sent home
with my son.  :)

Thanks for your time, I greatly appreciate any input!

*HUGS*,
Heather  =)

Thanks for your reply about Everyday Math.  I'm definitely going to ask
to see the classwork.

Anyone know anything about "Mathnasium" franchises?  One just sprouted
up on my neighborhood.  Are they fuzzy?  They seem to be on first
inspection www.mathnasium.com.

I've been toying with the idea of opening a Kumon center...lord knows
my city could use one...

Vicky

Hm, from TERC to EM--I'm not sure which way that cuts.

As a parent, you may see very little of the Everyday Math curriculum.
Many classrooms seem to keep the children's "Student Math Journals,"
(SMJ) which are workbooks and are typically used everyday, at school.
Always suspecting the worst, I think this is to keep them away from
parents.  What may come home to you is occasional "Family
letters," "Home links" or "Study Links."  Often these have fun little
family activities...

In my very nonscientific survey, it seems like private schools send the
SMJs home for homework but public schools keep them at school.  But I
could be totally wrong about this!!!

Anyway, knowing what I do now, I would insist on keeping tabs on what
my child is learning by reviewing the Student Math Journal regularly.
If it doesn't come home, go to school to see it.  It is arranged in
something like 12 units.  Be aware of what topic is supposed to be
taught in each unit (it's often difficult to tell, but the unit heading
usually gives it away).  You can then do a little teaching/reteaching
at home of the current topic, if you know what it is.

I haven't seen the 2007 revamp but I imagine it's not too much
different from the earlier version.

There is also a Student Reference Book (hardcover) that was very
helpful to me in understanding what the HECK they were trying to convey
half the time.  Problem is, in most public school, parents never see it
as there is only on copy per classroom and it is kept at school.  In
private school the households sometimes each get their own copy.

If you want to be truly annoyed by the incoherence of this curriculum,
look at the "Math Boxes" pages which follow every subunit in the SMJ.
They appear about every 8 pages or so.

EM is fairly strong in problem solving, so that might be a plus.  But
the incoherent spiral, the "exposure" (vs. mastery) philosophy, and the
alternative algorithms are all very troubling.

Vicky



--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "heuchera66" <heuchera66@...> wrote:
>
> Our school transitioned from TERC to Everyday Math this year.  So far
> the materials sent home have been scanty.  For my fourth grader, it
> seems like they have already done some skipping around of topics.
>
> I have one in K this year...I haven't started worrying about his math
> education yet.
>
> I finally watched "The Inconvenient Truth" video on youtube.  The
> Everyday Math text looks a little scary....maybe that is why it
hasn't
> been sent home yet.

If you want to ramp up fast on Everyday Math "algorithms" (and I
suggest you do!), check out Bas Braams' overview at the NYCHOLD website:

http://www.nychold.com/em-arith.html

You can't be too prepared...

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "heuchera66" <heuchera66@...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone seen this?  I guess it is the "algorithm taught in Every
Day
> Math.
> It looks way harder than long division.
>

Department of Corrections:

Lunch has not been shortened!

Instead, every class has been shortened by 1 minute to allow for a homeroom
before and after school.

Good.

Also, I realize I shouldnıt have characterized the middle school Spanish
teacher weıve lost as the only competent foreign language teacher in the
building. She has the reputation as the best foreign language teacher in the
building, which Iım sure she is. Christopherıs Spanish teacher for the past
couple of years wasnıt good; I donıt know anything about the teacher he has
this year.

CJ




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "irvingtonparentforum" <cijohn@...> wrote:
>
> << Who would actually solve the problem that way? I would venture a
> guess that fewer than 10% of your [i.e., the New York Times'] readers
> aged 40 and older have used long division even once in the past decade. >>
>
> That might be true, but if so it's because fewer than 10% of TIMES
> readers is proficient in long division.

FEWER THAN 10% IS PROFICIENT?

GOOD LORD

I should erase that message.....

FEWER THAN 10% OF TIMES READERS ARE PROFICIENT........

--- In beyondterc@yahoogroups.com, "heuchera66" <heuchera66@...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone seen this?  I guess it is the "algorithm taught in Every Day
> Math.
> It looks way harder than long division.
>

Have I seen lattice multiplication?

Yes!

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Posts here:

http://www.kitchentablemath.net/twiki/bin/view/Kitchen/
LatticeMultiplicationInChicagoTribune
http://www.kitchentablemath.net/twiki/bin/view/Kitchen/EverydayMathLongDivision
http://www.kitchentablemath.net/twiki/bin/view/Kitchen/
LatticeMultiplicationAtIllinoisLoop
http://www.kitchentablemath.net/twiki/bin/view/Kitchen/AnimatedLatticeMultiplica\
tion
http://www.kitchentablemath.net/twiki/bin/view/Kitchen/
LatticeMultiplicationWithCarrying
http://www.lewrockwell.com/taylor/taylor78.html

(You may have to hit refresh a couple of times to get these posts to open - the
site is
"frozen" - no one can edit, including Carolyn & me.)