What explains the decline in reading and math scores ?

[Anonymous]

I can't read the link - are there actually low scores? Compared to what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't read the link - are there actually low scores? Compared to what?

Another article

https://apnews.com/article/naep-reading-math-scores-12th-grade-c18d6e3fbc125f12948cc70cb85a520a

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't read the link - are there actually low scores? Compared to what?

Another article

https://apnews.com/article/naep-reading-math-scores-12th-grade-c18d6e3fbc125f12948cc70cb85a520a

The actual report

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reports/science/2024/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go read the thread on progressive schools.

Also read the thread on math enrichment / tutoring. Some parents are critical of those who spend extra time learning and practicing math, like extra math time is either a waste or not fun for kids so we shouldn’t make them do the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, in Florida banned woke math textbooks that encourage any type of answer to be more inclusive. With those textbooks no wonder math scores are going down the drain.

Scores for current middle and high schoolers are not influenced by a change this recent, regardless of your politics about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lucy Culkin's set back a generation of children when it comes to reading. This is not an understatement. It will take years to reverse this damage.

Didn’t Caulkins type curriculum get popular in the 80: and 90s? That doesn’t explain why kids in high school 30+ years later can’t read.

Not correct. Tons of teachers today have graduated from the Readers and Writers Workshop at Columbia which IS the Lucy Culkins method and it is still touted as a great thing. Such a racket!! It’s terrible and people are pushing back but lots of people are very vested in insisting it works because they spent time and money getting trained in it. My kids just entered high school and most of their lower teachers were trained in it. It’s a now problem, not a former problem.

Does "the workshop model" in elementary and middle school always mean Caulkins or Caulkin-esque? I've heard mixed reviews and some parents say her approach is actually great for kids who are on-level or above. And I'm assuming workshop DOES work at the high school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lucy Culkin's set back a generation of children when it comes to reading. This is not an understatement. It will take years to reverse this damage.

Didn’t Caulkins type curriculum get popular in the 80: and 90s? That doesn’t explain why kids in high school 30+ years later can’t read.

Not correct. Tons of teachers today have graduated from the Readers and Writers Workshop at Columbia which IS the Lucy Culkins method and it is still touted as a great thing. Such a racket!! It’s terrible and people are pushing back but lots of people are very vested in insisting it works because they spent time and money getting trained in it. My kids just entered high school and most of their lower teachers were trained in it. It’s a now problem, not a former problem.

Does "the workshop model" in elementary and middle school always mean Caulkins or Caulkin-esque? I've heard mixed reviews and some parents say her approach is actually great for kids who are on-level or above. And I'm assuming workshop DOES work at the high school level.

I don’t hear about it in our private high schools (two different schools) but I can’t say if that is because it has fallen out of favor for because it wasn’t a high school thing. FWIW Culkins herself has now acknowledged the importance of phonics and is no longer with Columbia which has rebranded the school. In other words, everyone is disassociating themselves with it. So glad my kids went to school when this garbage fad was all the rage.

[Anonymous]

I think the Alfie Kohn/DEI influenced end of homework is also an issue. Without focused practice and feedback, kids just are not going to learn effectively. Also the end of textbooks.

[Anonymous]

This is so incredibly obvious. iPads, phones, you tube, etc. kids don’t read for fun anymore.

[Anonymous]

Parents used to read to kids and give them picture books; now they hand them an ipad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents used to read to kids and give them picture books; now they hand them an ipad.

Teachers also often just play a YouTube video of someone else reading a book. I get that this allows them to introduce different books without buying them, but so much of the connection that sparks a joy of reading is lost.

And the tech in schools is part of the terrible feedback loop also. Yes the tech happens because toddlers get iPads, but it also continues to fracture attention and make it harder on parents.

[Anonymous]

In my progressive school the test using computers only.

[Anonymous]

It’s going to get worse, no one will read anything long, just generate an Ai summary for everything!!

[Anonymous]

Some kids read for fun. But I think it has dropped a ton. But that doesn’t really explain the drop in math. Sadly, and I know this will offend, but the “professionalization” of teaching has not improved the education of our children. So it’s kind of a failed profession. The best teachers are those who are passionate about the subjects they teach but so often administrators want to see BA in education plus masters in education and that doesn’t mean that person will be passionate when asked to teach history. I know a lot of very nice and smart people who dislike history a lot. Better to have a history buff teach history because authentic enthusiasm can be very engaging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers teaching all the woke crap instead of the basics.