Math at LAMB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

I disagree that an abacus is "archaic". I taught school in Japan, where all students learn on an abacus. And store clerks regularly use abacus there, and elsewhere in Asia. It's a good tool. You can learn to use it by watching YouTube videos. Tactile tools are very good for learning concepts such as math. That's part of the Montessori method you signed up for, right? My child was not fortunate enough to lottery into a Montessori school, so I purchased and learned to use golden beads and other manipulatives to give her that experience at home. Learned it all on YouTube.

[Anonymous]

Not a LAMB parent, but I really like the way Montessori teaches math. I think it gives most kids a better foundational understanding of the WHYs of math, not just memorizing how and what. That said, it is a big leap of faith to look at those math scores and trust that your child is learning and progressing as they should be. If Montessori is incompatible with PARCC and LAMB prioritizes the integrity of their learning methodology, then I'd want some other Montessori compatible assessment tool to track progress. Of course they SHOULD be doing that in the classroom, but at many weaker Montessori schools they do not do that well enough and kids can fall many grade levels behind in an area before it's noticed. That said, DCB's math scores are even lower (31% overall) and they're not Montessori, so perhaps some charters just are weak in some areas but have "other factors" that still make them appealing enough that parents ignore it, like a PP said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

You misunderstand me. I like what I know of Montessori, but I am no expert. I am just a parent. I can't teach the Montessori way, because I am not a teacher, and certainly not trained in the use of bead frames or an abacus. I think it's probably great for the kids to use them. It's just not appropriate for me to be expected to teach it with no guidance or training or even a page of instructions. Even if I had time to master the abacus myself, WHAT skills do they want my kid to learn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

You misunderstand me. I like what I know of Montessori, but I am no expert. I am just a parent. I can't teach the Montessori way, because I am not a teacher, and certainly not trained in the use of bead frames or an abacus. I think it's probably great for the kids to use them. It's just not appropriate for me to be expected to teach it with no guidance or training or even a page of instructions. Even if I had time to master the abacus myself, WHAT skills do they want my kid to learn?

Yes, this is a good point.

[Anonymous]

NP but one of the PPs made a really good point about how the math PARCC us so much reading comprehension. That is part of the reason I don’t think it’s a good measure of math skills- a word problem is one thing, an overly complicated giant paragraph set up for a problem is testing an entirely different skill set.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate this concern about PARCC math scores at LAMB. They are not strong. But PARCC is not the be-all and end-all of measuring math skills. I am a LAMB parent and know they use other assessment tools. PARCC is not compatible with Montessori math. But my daughter is entering 8th grade in DCI and was placed a grade ahead in math when she entered the school, as were many of her LAMB classmates. Yes, there are parents that are concerned about it regardless of whether or not we understand that it isn't compatible with PARCC and the administration is also concerned about it and does not brush it aside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate this concern about PARCC math scores at LAMB. They are not strong. But PARCC is not the be-all and end-all of measuring math skills. I am a LAMB parent and know they use other assessment tools. PARCC is not compatible with Montessori math. But my daughter is entering 8th grade in DCI and was placed a grade ahead in math when she entered the school, as were many of her LAMB classmates. Yes, there are parents that are concerned about it regardless of whether or not we understand that it isn't compatible with PARCC and the administration is also concerned about it and does not brush it aside.

But how did she score on PARCC? Without knowing whether the kids that place ahead scored 4's or 5's, it's no accurate to assume that the low number of kids scoring on grade level are actually at or above grade level, but just not demonstrating that on PARCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

[Anonymous]

Montessori math is INFINITELY better than Common Core and PARCC. The fact the test scores are low proves they are staying true to the Montessori method.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

The new principal sent the post on June 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montessori math is INFINITELY better than Common Core and PARCC. The fact the test scores are low proves they are staying true to the Montessori method.

Agreed, but the Montessori method implemented weakly is not better. Not saying that LAMB is weak at all (I have no idea), but low test scores could prove they're staying true, but doesn't also prove they're implementing Montessori well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

PP wasn't annoyed about the use of tha abacus, but about the expectation she teach it with no support or guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

PP wasn't annoyed about the use of tha abacus, but about the expectation she teach it with no support or guidance

Good lord. It wasn’t an expectation, just a suggestion for a fun math supporting activity for summer alongside things like “read to your child”. A website to learn more was linked.

Some people…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

PP wasn't annoyed about the use of tha abacus, but about the expectation she teach it with no support or guidance

Good lord. It wasn’t an expectation, just a suggestion for a fun math supporting activity for summer alongside things like “read to your child”. A website to learn more was linked.

Some people…

Completely agree with PP directly above. It was an end-of-year email from the principal that (without pressuring parents), listed several ideas for those parents who were looking for "enrichment-type" activities to do over the summer. I actually thought that the suggestion of the abacus was spot on and a really good (cheaper and more easily available) analogue to a Montessori bead board. I also agree that there are reasons for parents to pay attention to both math and reading skills, and to take PARCC scores as one piece of information along with several other pieces of information. But outrage over an email providing several suggestions for summer activities (without any implication that parents are expected to teach these skills) seems like an odd place to put your frustration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the bead frame is used to teach base ten numbers in montessori. it’s color coded and easy for my 5 year old to understand. she can skip count and now has a good foundation in number sense, not just wrote learning.

That is fine but I do not know how to use a bead frame or an abacus, and we are not using a bead frame at all. I think it is unreasonable to expect parents to be the ones to teach children how to use archaic equipment.

the Montessori method is pretty tactile in general -- I get the point in using the various equipment they use because of their understanding of how kids learn. I don't profess to understand Montessori methods fully, but I think it's just that you make a choice when you enroll your kids, that they will be using these methods and techniques.

This. If you’re this annoyed about an abacus you may not be right for Montessori.

Also who sent this email? I never saw anything like this.

And: try looking up how to use an abacus. It’s actually pretty cool.

PP wasn't annoyed about the use of tha abacus, but about the expectation she teach it with no support or guidance

Good lord. It wasn’t an expectation, just a suggestion for a fun math supporting activity for summer alongside things like “read to your child”. A website to learn more was linked.

Some people…

Completely agree with PP directly above. It was an end-of-year email from the principal that (without pressuring parents), listed several ideas for those parents who were looking for "enrichment-type" activities to do over the summer. I actually thought that the suggestion of the abacus was spot on and a really good (cheaper and more easily available) analogue to a Montessori bead board. I also agree that there are reasons for parents to pay attention to both math and reading skills, and to take PARCC scores as one piece of information along with several other pieces of information. But outrage over an email providing several suggestions for summer activities (without any implication that parents are expected to teach these skills) seems like an odd place to put your frustration.

The LAMB defenders are in the house!

There's no 'outrage'. Calm down. A person's mild criticism is that parents are not taught Montessori pedagogy, but there's a suggestion that we should know it. It's ok.