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School District Educates Parents on ‘Everyday Math’In order to bridge the learning gap, the district has brought the classroom to the public to teach the Everyday Math curriculum to the community.Related Content
We all know that two times two equals four, and four times four equals 16—it's pretty simple math.
But in Anchorage classrooms, math is being taught in a totally different way. It’s called Everyday Math and the new method has drawn complaints from parents who say they can't help their kids with their homework because they don't understand it. In order to bridge the learning gap, the district has brought the classroom to the public to teach the Everyday Math curriculum to the community. For a generation of parents who learned addition and subtraction largely on the principles of memorization, this new method is unfamiliar territory. Gerry Welsh came to the community math night with his son Arthur to learn how his son is expected to work math problems. “We get a lot of homework routinely. Like, we barely have a day off so it challenges me a lot,” said Arthur, a student at Goldenview Middle School. Mastering the Everyday Math program is key for both adults and kids to move beyond memorization into complete understanding. “The definition of mathematics is a science of pattern and order that's all on the right side of your brain,” said Penny Williams, a math instruction specialist for the district. “You and I learned math on the left side of our brain, which is memorizing.” But only a few dozen parents showed up for the latest community math night, despite widespread frustration among parents. “The school district can only invite; [it] can't compel people to attend,” said Gerry Welsh. Using formats like math nights, parent workshops and parent universities, the goal is to improve the district's math proficiency, which currently stands at 70 percent. As part of a national audit, the school district received 77 recommendations on improving Everyday Math in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school district will only focus on three of those recommendations: communication with parents, staff development, and designing the curriculum so students are more math-proficient. |
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Homeschooling in Kenai said on Monday, Oct 24 at 10:58 AM
Why can't the schools admit that "Everyday Math" was and is a failure? Student scores have continued dropping during the Everyday Math tenure. Homeschooling, that's the new norm for Alaska and it worked exceptionally well for our boys now in College in the lower 48. Our oldest tested out of all his required math courses after taking and nearly acing the advanced math tests at entry. Homeschooling, it really works and helped to keep our family close and committed to each other.
75788732Concerned Mom said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 10:45 PM
Had I known about it I would have attended! Daily I send homework back to school with my son with a ? mark next to the problem because I have no clue what method is being taught & how to apply it.
75586859Anonymous said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 9:32 PM
How can someone attend if you don't no about it
75585711anoymous said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 8:04 PM
our childs was getting a 29 percent using the everyday math we moved to another state and is getting a A something is wrong with is
75584084Engineer said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 6:20 PM
It is hard to tell but it appears in this short video that the method being used does nothing but add to the confusion of math. Math is very simple to learn when taught correctly. The method being used seems to complicate the process.
75580622MD said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 6:01 PM
I learned math by a strict by the book preacher! There was no excuse for making mistakes, even though that's how we learn. Here I am 30 years later struggling to find employment.
75579774Parent of asd students who don't understand everyday math said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 4:50 PM
It would have been nice if ADS let the parents know about the event. I double checked my email and school newsletters and see nothing about this. I do see it at the very bottom of the asd website.
75576743Anonymous said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 3:21 PM
The parents were probley educated in those same schools. Thats why parents if you can homeschool your kids because this is obviously another test trial for a program that wont work just to spend more of our hard earned money!
75573117Sonya Lorimer said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 2:34 PM
If the system truly works, how about just having it taught in schools rather than sending home homework that parents don't understand and can't help with. Homework is unnecessary. That extra sheet of problems every day after kids have been studying all day does not improve their retention or comprehension of the material. Kids need down time more than one more page of math. There is such a thing as overloading and it actually makes you less likely to retain the material. If it really works, then prove it to the parents by grades, not by unnecessary homework that neither parents nor kids have time for.
75570709patchs said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 1:53 PM
How much is this costing Anchorage taxpayers? I'm sure the ASD and NEA are not volunteering their time to provide this information to parents.
75568817Dumb Construction Worker said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 1:41 PM
How can any adult function properly in society without knowing simple mathematics?
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