http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI
My second grader’s school district has adopted the “Everyday Mathematics” program shown in this video. It is as bad as the lady is saying, even at the second grade level. We have a very difficult time helping him with the homework, because quite frankly this crap is hard to understand. All those old algorithms you grew up with, are not taught. They are replaced by alternative ways of finding the answer, that may work fine for math geeks who are proficient already in the old ways – but tossing away the old tried and true way and replacing it is a mistake in monstrous proportions.
His school district use to be one of the best in the State, but it has moved way down the list. Many other districts are also now teaching this, and it’s because the state wide test is based on this math.
The results are starting to come in, and the kids are failing the state wide exam. So what do they do? Return to the older books that worked? Nope. They lower the bar on the math scores for a given time, having the math scores be a smaller percentage of the total grade.
I wish we could afford a private school, there are some good ones in our area, but its impossible. And as far as home schooling, one of us would have to quit our job, and that is a “no can do” . We do after-school him though with books recommended by fellow Freepers facing the same situation.
Good news update - yesterday the teacher said the school will be dumping Everyday Mathematics and using a better program beginning next year.
Good luck to you in your struggle against mediocrity in our schools.