If you want some interesting media coverage of "new math," do a few searches for Bellevue School District math curriculum. I believe the Seattle School District has also been going back and forth between actually teaching math and having the warm fuzzy "a train leaves Chicago at 2pm traveling 30mph and Honolulu at 4pm traveling 90mph. How does this make you feel?" type questions.
I am personally completely opposed to this type of math. We used Singapore Math, and it was awesome. It was mastery based, but you mastered every angle of concepts so thoroughly that you were learning the application of algebraic concepts without realizing it
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I found out, after the fact, that the school district was choosing between Singapore Math and Everyday Math. Frustrates me to no end, as Singapore would be my preference, and I may end up buying it anyways, especially since Leif keeps asking for more addition and subtraction pages, which just aren't in big supply in either Everyday Math or MEP. I would have been overjoyed to have it provided free by the school.
I agree that the classical approach is effective, and several of the families whose kids I like best in our homeschooling group use it. We're not following a strict WTM approach, but it does influence how I think of things.
Ugh! Wow. The school chose between one extreme and the other. Grrrr.
Honestly, though, no matter what direction you go, just because you are involved, you care, you research, and you teach through every day life, Leif will acquire a far superior education than any he could receive in a public school, no matter how excellent the teachers or curriculum might have been.
I was also brought up on the classical approach, with its focus on mastering concepts before advancing. This is why I have difficulty helping my kids with homework, because after all this time, I admit that I'm still not entirely sure what they are learning in school.
For the time being, I'm hoping that their new school suits them better, but the fact is that our school district does use Everyday Math. I told the kids that they can go to this school, and that I want them to give it their best efforts, but that I'm keeping the homeschool alternative as an option.
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....Or is that the point...?
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I agree that the classical approach is effective, and several of the families whose kids I like best in our homeschooling group use it. We're not following a strict WTM approach, but it does influence how I think of things.
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Honestly, though, no matter what direction you go, just because you are involved, you care, you research, and you teach through every day life, Leif will acquire a far superior education than any he could receive in a public school, no matter how excellent the teachers or curriculum might have been.
Reply
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For the time being, I'm hoping that their new school suits them better, but the fact is that our school district does use Everyday Math. I told the kids that they can go to this school, and that I want them to give it their best efforts, but that I'm keeping the homeschool alternative as an option.
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