Posted on 01/12/2005 2:30:56 PM PST by nickcarraway
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Students and teachers beginning in the fall will face a newer kind of math in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The state Board of Regents this week adopted the new policy for schools statewide that will include teaching algebra concepts starting in the fifth grade and quadratic equations in eighth grade. The teaching of those subjects in depth has mostly been reserved for high school.
"There is no question in our minds that this will position New York state well internationally," said William Brosnan, superintendent of Northport schools on Long Island and chairman of the Regents' panel on overhauling math.
Its findings were sent to teachers and other educators statewide. The panel received 2,000 responses and incorporated many of the concerns and recommendations, Brosnan said Wednesday.
The goal, said Brosnan, is to provide a clear, sequential math education in the lower grades that gives a deep understanding of math, adding the concept has proven effective in Singapore, Japan and several other countries.
Critics have argued the new standards may be too challenging. Others argue the increased use of calculators, under strict conditions, could weaken some math skills.
But Brosnan said the new program will clarify what is to be taught and when. That's critical for building an understanding of the subject, he said, rather than just knowing how to follow formulas.
He said a recent national study proves the need. The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation gave the state a "C" for its curriculum content and a "D" for clarity. This new system changes that, he said.
When I was going to school, if you took algebra by the 9th grade, you were considered to be very smart. Nowadays, if you DON'T take algebra by 8th grade, it's unusual. It keeps going younger and younger. Also, when I was going to school, if you read a chapter book by 3rd grade, that was considered an accomplishment. Now a good portion of my FIRST graders are doing just that.
Whos going to teach the children to read the problems so they can work them out??
bump
Well, from now on the students will be counting using fingers only, and not toes. This is an advance.
The same approach is used somewhat in Korea, but the students aren't often able to do "physical" type math (applying it). Most teachers recognize that you still need to know the basics.
""Students and teachers beginning in the fall will face a newer kind of math in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.""
Pre-kindergarten? Children learn through play, it's ridiculouse when five year old kindergarten students have two hours of homework.
A train leaves Chicago traveling at 60 mph while another train leaves Los Angeles twenty minutes later traveling at a rate of 85 mph. Draw a picture of how you will feel when the trains finally pass each other.
When my oldest son was 5, I taught him how to do simple math calculations using Lotus. He turned into a danged computer nerd. I just don't know what happened..........
Algebra lite?
How else do you solve the trains question?
Sheesh, I remember when studying sets was considered new math. Which of the following does NOT belong in the set: {New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh.}
My first thought was - first they will have to find some qualified techers.
I know, I know --- it's Pittsburgh. But that's not math.
I remember the people I knew and heard about in college that wanted to be elementary school teachers. Their mantra was something like: It doesn't matter how bad you do in the upper level math/chemistry/etc. classes, you can save your GPA by taking another course on how to set up a multicultural bulletin board. The elementary school teacher-wannabes were generally an unimpressive lot.
Yeah, me too, and yet the educational system just keeps getting better and better, eh? With all of the giant minds guiding public education for the last 40 years, you'd think every kid in the system should be the functional equivalent of a doctoral graduate of the last century.
Not.
The administrator article that said "There is no question in our minds that this will position New York state well internationally..." reveals the intent - i.e., looking good as a district or city to the rest of the world.
Like any bell curve, some kids can handle advanced work and some take longer than their peers. IMO, pushing too much too soon is moot as far as benefits go, and quite possibly detrimental. Like the manic craze to push computer literacy early, I tend to think of this clamor as more faddism in the face of systemic failure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.