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‘Everyday Math’ Praised, Criticized by Parents and School DistrictThe learning strategy is designed to help students understand math in a different way, but it’s throwing some parents and educators for a loop.Related Content
Breaking down math in the classroom and at home, the Anchorage School District is looking at new ways to teach one of their key programs so students, teachers, and parents will all know how to do it.
Everyday Math has been taught to Anchorage School District students in grades K-8 for 15 years and counting. But figuring out how to multiply or subtract is a lot different than the way most adults learned how to solve math problems growing up. Some parents are concerned about Everyday Math because they aren’t familiar with the new method and are unable to help their kids with their homework. For upcoming fourth grader Jaden Reed, figuring out math problems is a work in progress. “It can get pretty hard,” said Jaden. As part of the school district’s 15-year Everyday Math program, he is one of thousands of students in grades K-8 who is learning math in its different forms. Educators say the variety of teaching methods help students better grasp mathematical concepts and will prepare them to be more competitive with the rest of the world when they are older. “What Everyday Math does is teaches the 'why' and so many different ways of adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing,” said Ruth Dene, principal at Denali Montessori. “Because they've had it from the beginning, they've seen the patterns because that's what math is about,” she continued. But the "why" part is what parents are worried about. A new audit says parents are not getting information on how to do the math, which leaves them in the dark when their children ask for homework help. “We have to do a much better job of taking the information that is going to the students and putting it to parents in a manner where they can understand it,” said Ed Graff, Anchorage School District assistant superintendent. Gretchen Guess, president of the Anchorage School District School Board, said the audit was “really strong” in addressing shortfalls regarding implementation of the “math curriculum with Everyday Math both from a parent communication and from a staff support.” Denali Montessori Principal Dene said teachers at her school still teach addition, subtraction, multiplication and division the traditional way, but by offering a variety of teaching methods, students are able to figure out which math method works best for them. When he doesn't rush his work and has plenty of time to work on a math problem, Jaden said he can “get it down pretty easy.” The Everyday Math program is in its third version and still requires memorization skills. But based off the recent audit, school district officials will present an improvement plan to the school board in 45 days on ways to bridge the gap in teaching the math to students, teachers and parents. Things like math nights, parent workshops, and parent universities are options being considered. |
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Anonymous said on Sunday, Jun 26 at 6:31 PM
“Because they've had it from the beginning, they've seen the patterns because that's what math is about,” she continued. WHAT-- Math is all about patterns??? Patterns makes up a small portion of mathematics. DEAD WRONG -- Mathematics is about much more than patterns. ============== Anyone planning to go beyond struggling through Algebra I with pattern recognition will recognize this statement as pure Baloney. Ask any college graduate in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering .. how far patterns took them? Danaher M. Dempsey, Jr. BA Mathematics No Child Left Behind High Qualified teacher of Mathematics, Chemistry, and Science. Member of the Washington State Board of Education Math Advisory Panel
69710289Mike J. said on Saturday, Jun 25 at 3:09 AM
@Stephan patterson: Glad you feel beter now, but has nothing to do with the subject at hand. All of this new learning stuff is researched and developed by higher scholars and such that have studied 'learning', as well as nationwide scholars (subject matter experts) in the various subjects. These are implemented in many different school districts areoung the nation, some work and some don't. Problem is that things have gotten too creative and fancy, and someone needs to take another look at the basic 'Laws or Learning' and such...
69636468wright said on Friday, Jun 24 at 2:00 PM
Something needs to change! this program DOES NOT work!
69614044Stephan G. Patterson said on Friday, Jun 24 at 1:54 PM
Part 2) Is she still here because she has spent so much money meant for the classroom on propping up her support with the teachers union? This is a tragedy. While Carol Comeau pontificates, a child and his or her dreams and potential are lost. Some one who could have learned and understood will find themselves at a Wal-Mart cash register unable to make change. The only understanding they will have is that the computer told them how much to give back. This is the society you are creating Ms. Comeau. Stephan G. Patterson
69613697Stephan G. Patterson said on Friday, Jun 24 at 1:53 PM
Part 1) Once again Carol Comeau proves the baffoon she is. At the end of her tenure, how many children who began school with wonder and an intense love of learning will have had their potential snuffed out by the many idiocies that Ms. Comeau has forced upon them. Ms. Comeau is such an out of step idiot that at one time she ordered her principal at Dimond High to put a garbage can in my front yard across from the school so that the kids would have a place to smoke and place their trash away from the school grounds. "She put her can on my front lawn." You folks might not remember but I took it over to the school and emptied it on the principals desk. It was only after the T.V. cameras got through with Ms. Comeau that she slipped off quietly, with her garbage can.Can no-one stop her from the harm she so blindly is doing to the children of Anchorage?Is she still here because she has spent so much money meant for the classroom on propping up her support with the teachers union?
69613636M. Robinson said on Friday, Jun 24 at 1:02 PM
What concerns me the most was Ruth Dene, principal at Denali Montessori comment. “Because they've had it from the beginning, they've seen the patterns because that's what math is about,”. My daughter has struggled with this program because she DID NOT have it from the beginning. This is a community with a lot of military children moving in and out, so a more traditional math program should be offered. For example, the lattice method how many students will be able to use that in middle or high school.
69611149Duke Circle said on Friday, Jun 24 at 12:13 PM
If it is still not working after 15 years, perhaps it is time for a change. It is interesting that no mention was made about how the majority of teachers feel about the program.
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