I work as a senior engineer at a large multinational company in the fields of manufacturing and computer software development.
My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Masters Degree in Business Administration, a Post MBA Certificate in International Business, and a second post MBA certificate in E-Commerce and Information Systems, and I am licensed by the state of Washington as a Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering.
This is extremely telling when Kirschner who is without NSF funding or USA textbook publishing connections tells Dr. Rassmussen the truth.
We keep hearing form the publishers and their NSF funded cronies at the University level tell us about how wonderful reform math programs are and how they make math more accessible to educationally disadvantaged learners.
The reality was in both Bellevue and Seattle achievement gaps significantly expanded during the reform math decade.
Districts that used {Trailblazers, TERC/Investigations, or Everyday Math} followed by {Connected Math} followed by {Core-plus or IMP} sent large numbers of their graduates into remedial math when in the Collegiate environment.
South Whidbey attempted a math fix last year as the had been using Trailblazers, Connected, and Core-Plus. They were motivated to change when finding out how poorly their graduates were doing after graduation with math.
They ditched the reform at k-8 for better textbooks but realizing their kids were coming out of a k-8 reform program they went for "Discovering" as their high school choice. "Discovering" is a major step up from Core but as Dr. Kirschner tells us it is still a big mess and should be avoided.
It would be wonderful if we had not Wasted our money on Math WASL testing and rather had an actual test of mathematics skills. That End of Course testing is coming, too bad it was not here a decade ago.
Did you people read the ISD newsletter of February 24th? I think it is time to file a law suit against the Issaquah School district the same way the parents of Seattle children did!
Read this:
UPDATES 2.11.10 After considering the Adoption Committee's presentation, reviewing the texts, and further discussion and questioning, the Instructional Materials Committee recommended that the superintendent forward the Discovering Mathematics curriculum to the School Board for final approval.
The Discovering Mathematics materials will be on public display during business hours in the lobby of the Administration Building beginning Friday February 12, 2010 until the Board acts on the adoption. Staff will be available on February 24 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and on March 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please note: During second winter break, the lobby will be open Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
1.28.10 The Teacher Adoption Committee formally presented their process, findings, and recommendation to the Instructional Materials Committee.
1.27.10 Adoption Committee reconvened. The Teacher Adoption Committee reconvened on January 13 to review the information collected the first half of this school year. That information included the survey data and feedback gathered at our Community Math Nights. After reviewing the gathered information, and in the absence of any changes at the state level around high school mathematics materials, the adoption committee unanimously recommended to continue forward with the Discovering Mathematics recommendation and move it on to the Instructional Materials Committee.
Educational Planning Committee concurred. In light of the Adoption Committee’s recommendation, the District Educational Planning Committee, consisting of the Associate Superintendent, the Executive Directors of Elementary, Middle and High School Education, the Executive Director of Special Services, the Director of Instructional Support, and the Director of Assessment, advised the Superintendent to forward the Discovering Mathematics textbook recommendation on to the Instructional Materials Committee for review.
Superintendent's approval and directive to move forward. On January 27th, the Superintendent expressed his confidence that the High School Mathematics Committee had completed a thorough and thoughtful process in making their selection. He directed the IMC to proceed with the next steps in the Instructional Materials Committee review process.
Instructional Materials Committee Process. The Instructional Materials Committee is required to fulfill two RCWs related to instructional materials: RCW 28A.320.230 (instructional materials), and RCW 28A. 640 020 (elimination of discrimination). The committee is composed of teacher representatives and community members. It is chaired by a non-voting Superintendent’s appointee.
The committee has two major tasks:
1.To review and recommend materials based on: a.The District’s goals b.The District’s philosophy of selection of instructional materials c.Current practices for evaluation of materials for sex and ethnic bias and community standards 2.To use the District’s procedures for reviewing and declaring materials obsolete or surplus. Timeline for High School Math.
January 28, 2010 IMC Presentation, 4:15 p.m., Board Room, Administration Building. Adoption committee formally presents their process, findings, and recommendation to IMC. After the presentation, and before the next meetings, committee members read and respond to the text under consideration. February 11, 2010 IMC discussion and vote If recommended, materials go on public display at the administration building (2 weeks required) March, 2010 School Board action on IMC recommendation If approved by IMC, materials go before the school board for final approval.
This is extremely telling when Kirschner who is without NSF funding or USA textbook publishing connections tells Dr. Rassmussen the truth.
ReplyDeleteWe keep hearing form the publishers and their NSF funded cronies at the University level tell us about how wonderful reform math programs are and how they make math more accessible to educationally disadvantaged learners.
The reality was in both Bellevue and Seattle achievement gaps significantly expanded during the reform math decade.
Districts that used {Trailblazers, TERC/Investigations, or Everyday Math} followed by {Connected Math} followed by {Core-plus or IMP} sent large numbers of their graduates into remedial math when in the Collegiate environment.
South Whidbey attempted a math fix last year as the had been using Trailblazers, Connected, and Core-Plus. They were motivated to change when finding out how poorly their graduates were doing after graduation with math.
They ditched the reform at k-8 for better textbooks but realizing their kids were coming out of a k-8 reform program they went for "Discovering" as their high school choice. "Discovering" is a major step up from Core but as Dr. Kirschner tells us it is still a big mess and should be avoided.
It would be wonderful if we had not Wasted our money on Math WASL testing and rather had an actual test of mathematics skills. That End of Course testing is coming, too bad it was not here a decade ago.
Did you people read the ISD newsletter of February 24th? I think it is time to file a law suit against the Issaquah School district the same way the parents of Seattle children did!
ReplyDeleteRead this:
UPDATES
2.11.10
After considering the Adoption Committee's presentation, reviewing the texts, and further discussion and questioning, the Instructional Materials Committee recommended that the superintendent forward the Discovering Mathematics curriculum to the School Board for final approval.
The Discovering Mathematics materials will be on public display during business hours in the lobby of the Administration Building beginning Friday February 12, 2010 until the Board acts on the adoption. Staff will be available on February 24 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and on March 1 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please note: During second winter break, the lobby will be open Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
1.28.10
The Teacher Adoption Committee formally presented their process, findings, and recommendation to the Instructional Materials Committee.
1.27.10
Adoption Committee reconvened. The Teacher Adoption Committee reconvened on January 13 to review the information collected the first half of this school year. That information included the survey data and feedback gathered at our Community Math Nights. After reviewing the gathered information, and in the absence of any changes at the state level around high school mathematics materials, the adoption committee unanimously recommended to continue forward with the Discovering Mathematics recommendation and move it on to the Instructional Materials Committee.
Educational Planning Committee concurred. In light of the Adoption Committee’s recommendation, the District Educational Planning Committee, consisting of the Associate Superintendent, the Executive Directors of Elementary, Middle and High School Education, the Executive Director of Special Services, the Director of Instructional Support, and the Director of Assessment, advised the Superintendent to forward the Discovering Mathematics textbook recommendation on to the Instructional Materials Committee for review.
Superintendent's approval and directive to move forward. On January 27th, the Superintendent expressed his confidence that the High School Mathematics Committee had completed a thorough and thoughtful process in making their selection. He directed the IMC to proceed with the next steps in the Instructional Materials Committee review process.
Instructional Materials Committee Process. The Instructional Materials Committee is required to fulfill two RCWs related to instructional materials: RCW 28A.320.230 (instructional materials), and RCW 28A. 640 020 (elimination of discrimination). The committee is composed of teacher representatives and community members. It is chaired by a non-voting Superintendent’s appointee.
The committee has two major tasks:
1.To review and recommend materials based on:
a.The District’s goals
b.The District’s philosophy of selection of instructional materials
c.Current practices for evaluation of materials for sex and ethnic bias and community standards
2.To use the District’s procedures for reviewing and declaring materials obsolete or surplus.
Timeline for High School Math.
January 28, 2010 IMC Presentation, 4:15 p.m., Board Room, Administration Building.
Adoption committee formally presents their process, findings, and recommendation to IMC.
After the presentation, and before the next meetings, committee members read and respond to the text under consideration.
February 11, 2010 IMC discussion and vote
If recommended, materials go on public display at the administration building (2 weeks required)
March, 2010 School Board action on IMC recommendation
If approved by IMC, materials go before the school board for final approval.