Invasion of the Math Snatchers

The Independence Institute ^ | Barry Fagin

[kingu]

An excellent program, and one I hope that spreads into more elementary classrooms. I'm curious though - all of our middle schools have specialized math classes.. How does the accelerated math program work in your middle school? Is it part of a remedial math program, or ???

[Land of the Free 04]

There is a big difference between a child who knows *why* six times seven is forty-two, and a child who merely pushes "6 X 7 =" on a calculator.

I give up---*why* is six times seven forty-two?

[Democratshavenobrains]

I refuse to engage in difficult mathematics arguements. I prefer to employ the "Al Sharpton Approach". Math was just created by the WHITE SLAVEHOLDERS, for the WHITE SLAVEHOLDERS, and has no relevence to MY life.

[Pardon Me]

I teach in a tiny school in a rural state. My husband and I are the entire "Math Department!" We use the program as our curriculum in 5th through 8th grade. I have taught Math and remedial Math for 25 years and am very much old school when in comes to memorizing facts, etc. I have seen fads come and go in education, so I was reluctant to try this program at first. I am very pleased with the results thus far. The students love the program which helps tremendously.

[Land of the Free 04]

But isn't Louis Farrakhan (sp?) a big fan of numbers?

[kingu]

Ahh! Makes much more sense now, and I could see how such a program could be a great boon to a rural school. I didn't even consider such a thing. And anything that kids like that works is something to support.

[lilylangtree]

To go along with the math, I was in a bookstore some time ago. Four older teenages (3 females and a male) walked in and started browsing. Overheard one girl talking about some books that she read. Another girl pipes up and says: "Oh, I remember reading a book but it was long time ago."

[dandelion]

I'm having a really hard time finding a comprehensive math program for my son. He's only 5 1/2, but he's quite advanced with mathematics - he's able to add "thousands" in his head (1244 + 1244 = 2488, etc) without even writing down or seeing the equation.

He's also doing triple-digit subtraction, simple multiplication and division; he's able to balance simple fractions, and he, of his own accord, is now doing some simple algebra (10 + X = 15). He seems to have a profound understanding of the mechanics and structure of mathematics, and as a result not approaching math in a linear form - rather, he's literally "exploding" into all the disciplines at once.

My only approach to math has been quite laid back; "Math Made Simple" math blocks (nice for visual representations of base ten), marbles (sets), and flash cards for addition and subraction. In other words, I'm way out of my league here. I had expected to be able to teach up to sixth grade math without difficulty, but at this rate that will be next year.

HELP! HELP!! I can't add in my head even!!!

I'm not even gonna get started on the reading or science end of this - I went in the bathroom the other day to find out what was taking so long, and the little man was sitting there reading U.S. News and World report - looking up the news on Saddam's Capture... and he understood most of it.

I'm going to have to revamp my whole approach to home-school kindergarten here... any suggestions for a math program?

[dandelion]

Correction: the blocks are by "Math-U-See", not "Math Made Simple"...

[Carry_Okie]

I'm sorry to say, I invented my own math program because I was unhappy with Saxon. My 11-year-old is now doing college calculus. Her sister isn't far behind. The key was to use algebra to teach arithmetic. There is no text of which I know that can do what I did, althouth the "Keys Series" of workbooks is a start.

[Carry_Okie]

My 15 year old used Saxon and he completed College Algebra last semester with an A, and is starting his College Trig class this semester.

My 11 year old is doing college calculus.

[Tribune7]

ping

[dawn53]

My point is, Saxon is a fine math text. My son is not a genius, I wouldn't even call him gifted, but we used Saxon consistently and got good results.

So to say Saxon isn't an adequate text isn't necessarily true in every case.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

"Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe and not make messes in the house."
  -- Lazarus Long, "Time Enough for Love"

[hsmomx3]

I have heard that Singapore Math was pretty good. I have never seen it but I trust others here can guide you in the proper direction.

[hsmomx3]

Not math related but a very popular book in the schools around here is, "The Giver." Has anyone ever read this book?

[hsmomx3]

Can you provide some more insight about Saxon in the upper grades? Thanks!!

[Criminal Number 18F]

The program you are referring to is called Accelerated Math.

How far does it go? (in both grade and mathematical terms -- algebra? trig? calc I?) Got a link?

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Carry_Okie]

My point is, Saxon is a fine math text.

I understood your point. We disagree.

My son is not a genius, I wouldn't even call him gifted, but we used Saxon consistently and got good results.

Honestly, my kids are bright, but not geniuses. If you have an average kid, Saxon is, IMO, a repetitive bore that does not do a good job of teaching applications or theory.

So to say Saxon isn't an adequate text isn't necessarily true in every case.

Perhaps by American standards you could defend that point. Unfortunately, this nation ranks near the bottom of the industrialized world. It's not unusual for eight-year-olds in Japan to be doing what we consider to be high school algebra.

[AmericanVictory]

We favor Yoruba math, because we all know that the math now being taught is a white european plot and that it was stolen from the Yoruba, along with the space program.