Why is the math so terrible? Can parents do anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can claim the track is "projected" on average to be ahead by one year but it still does not benefit the smart kids. You are no longer allowed to take Algebra I in 6th grade. They dumb down the curriculum in elementary school so you can not make that pathway.

If you're saying that the entire math curriculum has been "dumbed down" because a very small number of students who previously would have taken Algebra I in 6th grade and calculus in 10th grade now must take Algebra I in 7th grade and calculus in 11th grade -- well, ok. But I disagree with you.

It is dumbed down for the smarter kids, yes. And at my daughter's ES school there were over 20 of 97 kids that went on to Algebra 1 years ago. It wasn't that small of a number. There are just many more uneducated children coming into the MCPS system these days and shrinking the percentage of these kids. Not the actual number but percentage. But that is not those kid's fault but yet they have to pay that price.

From what I understand, the vast majority of kids that were tracked too quickly were missing basic math facts. There are *very* few kids that are so good in math that they should take Algebra 1 in 6th grade. For most kids that are good in math, taking Algebra 1 in 7th is appropriate.

I also wonder how many of those kids that took Algebra in 6th grade also were tutored outside school (at home or other). I know there are those that didn't. But I'm thinking most kids probably had to have help outside school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can claim the track is "projected" on average to be ahead by one year but it still does not benefit the smart kids. You are no longer allowed to take Algebra I in 6th grade. They dumb down the curriculum in elementary school so you can not make that pathway.

If you're saying that the entire math curriculum has been "dumbed down" because a very small number of students who previously would have taken Algebra I in 6th grade and calculus in 10th grade now must take Algebra I in 7th grade and calculus in 11th grade -- well, ok. But I disagree with you.

It is dumbed down for the smarter kids, yes. And at my daughter's ES school there were over 20 of 97 kids that went on to Algebra 1 years ago. It wasn't that small of a number. There are just many more uneducated children coming into the MCPS system these days and shrinking the percentage of these kids. Not the actual number but percentage. But that is not those kid's fault but yet they have to pay that price.

From what I understand, the vast majority of kids that were tracked too quickly were missing basic math facts. There are *very* few kids that are so good in math that they should take Algebra 1 in 6th grade. For most kids that are good in math, taking Algebra 1 in 7th is appropriate.

I also wonder how many of those kids that took Algebra in 6th grade also were tutored outside school (at home or other). I know there are those that didn't. But I'm thinking most kids probably had to have help outside school.

That is what MCPS is telling you is the reason why. I do not believe it. I honestly think there are kids that can do math like this if it is taught correctly and with a group of hard working kids who apply themselves. My daughter did not have a tutor. Never did, hopefully never will. Her friends did not either that I know of. I am not saying everyone should be taking Algebra 1 as quickly as possible. I am just saying they should not, not let kids move ahead if they are ready to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You can claim the track is "projected" on average to be ahead by one year but it still does not benefit the smart kids. You are no longer allowed to take Algebra I in 6th grade. They dumb down the curriculum in elementary school so you can not make that pathway.

If you're saying that the entire math curriculum has been "dumbed down" because a very small number of students who previously would have taken Algebra I in 6th grade and calculus in 10th grade now must take Algebra I in 7th grade and calculus in 11th grade -- well, ok. But I disagree with you.

It is dumbed down for the smarter kids, yes. And at my daughter's ES school there were over 20 of 97 kids that went on to Algebra 1 years ago. It wasn't that small of a number. There are just many more uneducated children coming into the MCPS system these days and shrinking the percentage of these kids. Not the actual number but percentage. But that is not those kid's fault but yet they have to pay that price.

From what I understand, the vast majority of kids that were tracked too quickly were missing basic math facts. There are *very* few kids that are so good in math that they should take Algebra 1 in 6th grade. For most kids that are good in math, taking Algebra 1 in 7th is appropriate.

I also wonder how many of those kids that took Algebra in 6th grade also were tutored outside school (at home or other). I know there are those that didn't. But I'm thinking most kids probably had to have help outside school.

That is what MCPS is telling you is the reason why. I do not believe it. I honestly think there are kids that can do math like this if it is taught correctly and with a group of hard working kids who apply themselves. My daughter did not have a tutor. Never did, hopefully never will. Her friends did not either that I know of. I am not saying everyone should be taking Algebra 1 as quickly as possible. I am just saying they should not, not let kids move ahead if they are ready to do so.

I don't need MCPS to tell me this. I can see it by observing my kids and others. My DC is pretty advanced in math, too - in compacted math. Perhaps where you live there is a cluster of super smart kids, but as I said, *most* kids who were pushed too early probably weren't ready as *most* smart kids aren't that advanced in math. People have stated this before - a large public school cannot meet *every* child's needs. It is for the majority. The very advanced or very slow kids get left behind. Yes, it's a shame, but a public school is not your kid's tutor. I have heard from a teacher that if your ES child is super smart at math, there is an opportunity to take a math class in a HS. But again, most smart kids aren't at that level.

MCPS math tracking for the majority in 2.0 is already above the nation's standards, with Alg 1 by 8th grade. Some kids may be able to do more, but probably not that much more, at least not without help at home. So really, it doesn't make sense to push them that hard.

[Anonymous]

Common core aims to help those that are terrible at math but good at reading by sacrificing those that are naturally gifted at math. It is failing both groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common core aims to help those that are terrible at math but good at reading by sacrificing those that are naturally gifted at math. It is failing both groups.

Real life math problems involve words, too, not just numbers. Real life math problems aren't laid out in a pretty formula. You have to figure that out by reading the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common core aims to help those that are terrible at math but good at reading by sacrificing those that are naturally gifted at math. It is failing both groups.

It also does not help the ESL kids who are already low in math as it is. Now let's make them write paragraphs on how they got that math problem. Brilliant!

I think the new elementary school math is a complete joke. The teacher spends more time reteaching the kids who are looking at him/her like WTF after she goes on the tangent on how to get to 8+13. I mean even I have to relook at these problems and wonder, why? Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Common core aims to help those that are terrible at math but good at reading by sacrificing those that are naturally gifted at math. It is failing both groups.

How do the Common Core standards fail students who are naturally gifted at math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Common core aims to help those that are terrible at math but good at reading by sacrificing those that are naturally gifted at math. It is failing both groups.

It also does not help the ESL kids who are already low in math as it is. Now let's make them write paragraphs on how they got that math problem. Brilliant!

I think the new elementary school math is a complete joke. The teacher spends more time reteaching the kids who are looking at him/her like WTF after she goes on the tangent on how to get to 8+13. I mean even I have to relook at these problems and wonder, why? Why?

Could you please give some examples of the problems you look at and wonder why? why? about?

[Anonymous]

Elementary school 2.0 math is horrible. It has nothing to do with whether a child will be tracked into Algebra or Calc in high school. On dumbing down, the amount of repetition, easiness of the problems, and holding kids back is really shocking and completely inappropriate. This isn't an issue of when they hit what math class in later grades its an issue of MCPS not building a foundation of strong math skills and conceptual understanding in elementary school. They are completely missing the relational aspects of math as a system, not developing fluency and actual number sense, and building a group of math illiterate students. Its a horrible curriculum.

Just wait until you reach third grade where all of sudden demonstrating math understanding means writing essays and paragraphs about math. Children get rewarded for flowing, long texts that …I kid you not…..describe the concept incorrectly half the time. Yes, this is the deeper 2.0…deeper into the hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school 2.0 math is horrible. It has nothing to do with whether a child will be tracked into Algebra or Calc in high school. On dumbing down, the amount of repetition, easiness of the problems, and holding kids back is really shocking and completely inappropriate. This isn't an issue of when they hit what math class in later grades its an issue of MCPS not building a foundation of strong math skills and conceptual understanding in elementary school. They are completely missing the relational aspects of math as a system, not developing fluency and actual number sense, and building a group of math illiterate students. Its a horrible curriculum.

Just wait until you reach third grade where all of sudden demonstrating math understanding means writing essays and paragraphs about math. Children get rewarded for flowing, long texts that …I kid you not…..describe the concept incorrectly half the time. Yes, this is the deeper 2.0…deeper into the hole.

I didn't find this at all. DC had to prove understanding of the concepts in depth. Yes, DC had to write down the reasoning used to get the answer, but if the answer was wrong, they got credit for trying but not for the wrong answer or not understanding the concept. My DC is in 4/5 compacted math now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary school 2.0 math is horrible. It has nothing to do with whether a child will be tracked into Algebra or Calc in high school. On dumbing down, the amount of repetition, easiness of the problems, and holding kids back is really shocking and completely inappropriate. This isn't an issue of when they hit what math class in later grades its an issue of MCPS not building a foundation of strong math skills and conceptual understanding in elementary school. They are completely missing the relational aspects of math as a system, not developing fluency and actual number sense, and building a group of math illiterate students. Its a horrible curriculum.

Just wait until you reach third grade where all of sudden demonstrating math understanding means writing essays and paragraphs about math. Children get rewarded for flowing, long texts that …I kid you not…..describe the concept incorrectly half the time. Yes, this is the deeper 2.0…deeper into the hole.

I have a third-grader. When she writes things that are wrong, the teacher marks them as wrong, no matter how much she has written.

My third-grader also has much better number sense than my pre-2.0 student, and she is better at computation both on paper and in her head. This might be a personality difference. Or it might be because my pre-2.0 student was accelerated twice. It's hard to build a foundation of strong math skills and conceptual understanding when you go straight from second-grade math to fourth-grade math to sixth-grade math.

[Anonymous]

Too many parents don't pay attention, they just accept what they are told and are pretty dumb about math. Parents who complain don't get anywhere because MCPS does what it wants and doesn't care anyway.

MCPS has never adopted an approach involving demonstrating mastery in math pre 2.0 or 2.0. MCPS fell short on requiring fluency in the old system and falls short again in this new system. This is a real problem and probably why the county keeps failing the math exams even now in their precious 2.0 system.

2.0 basically avoiding solving the real problems and just heaped on a new set of problems. If you want your child to have a strong math foundation, you just can not rely on MCPS. Move to a different county or state, go private, or teach them math at home. It isn't happening in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Math is becoming a disaster on all fronts.

I'm guessing that the idea was to level everyone in elementary school so they could elevate the low performers and put a ceiling on the high performers to hit the needed average test scores. Yes, 2.0 is intended to accelerate kids that would have been in the "grade level" or bottom group of the previous MCPS math curriculum. It also de-accelerates everyone else. The only equity gained is that most kids are not working at the right level or learning math.

The complaints in lower SES schools is that parents with limited education and/or english have no way to figure out how to help their kids. There is no textbook, its very disorganized, and this idea that parental involvement is not necessary with 2.0 is just stupid. The lower performing kids are failing with 2.0 at higher rates than they failed in the old system. Downward trends are never appreciated. The complaints in higher SES schools is that their kids aren't learning anything, which they aren't.

MCPS banks on being able to piss off half the county without consequences but it gets itself in trouble when it started to tick off both sides. A few more years of failing test scores will put the nail in the coffin on 2.0 math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many parents don't pay attention, they just accept what they are told and are pretty dumb about math. Parents who complain don't get anywhere because MCPS does what it wants and doesn't care anyway.

MCPS has never adopted an approach involving demonstrating mastery in math pre 2.0 or 2.0. MCPS fell short on requiring fluency in the old system and falls short again in this new system. This is a real problem and probably why the county keeps failing the math exams even now in their precious 2.0 system.

2.0 basically avoiding solving the real problems and just heaped on a new set of problems. If you want your child to have a strong math foundation, you just can not rely on MCPS. Move to a different county or state, go private, or teach them math at home. It isn't happening in MCPS.

What county does it better? 45 states have adopted Common Core. From what I have read, the College Board is looking to change SAT tests to reflect Common Core, and colleges are also looking at changing its curriculum as well to accommodate the incoming HSers that were instructed under CC (so not in the near future). So, if your kid doesn't go to a school that has CC, would that be a disadvantage eventually?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Math is becoming a disaster on all fronts.

I'm guessing that the idea was to level everyone in elementary school so they could elevate the low performers and put a ceiling on the high performers to hit the needed average test scores. Yes, 2.0 is intended to accelerate kids that would have been in the "grade level" or bottom group of the previous MCPS math curriculum. It also de-accelerates everyone else. The only equity gained is that most kids are not working at the right level or learning math.

This is a math disaster. Raising the low scores and lowering the high scores does not raise the average.

Also, which "everyone else" does it de-accelerate, exactly? The students who previously would have taken Algebra I in 8th grade but will now instead take Algebra I in 8th grade?