Is math getting short shrift?

[Anonymous]

Went to parent teacher meetings yesterday and the teachers spent 95 percent of the time talking about reading and writing and 5 percent of the time on math. We are at a charter for first grade but had similar experiences at DCPS. Did anyone else have this experience and find it concerning? Do you think it is reflective of how much emphasis math is given in the classroom? Anyone have any ideas on how to supplement so that kids develop a love of mathematical reasoning?

[Anonymous]

Math here sucks, period. There's a reason we are soooooo far behind the rest of the world

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think math does get short schrift. I think students and schools alike fall into a false pattern of "math is hard" and it's mainly due to lack of proper emphasis, poor teaching methods, et cetera, along with an attitude of "well, you'll still manage fine without math."

Math is so important regardless of whether people want to be scientists or engineers, whether figuring out your home finances, or at work, figuring out a bill of materials, inventorying, et cetera. For example, kids who want to be computer game programmers - yet don't realize that there's a whole lot of math involved in programming. Set up for failure early on by an attitude that doesn't think math is important.

[Anonymous]

This is something I'm very worried about. My daughter lives math (PK) and is getting no push at all at her charter school. At 5 she can already do addition and subtraction and when I ask the teacher the plan for how to supplement I get nothing but "reading, reading, reading"

[Anonymous]

kumon type workbooks?

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with OP. Was just saying the same thing to my husband after our DCPS parent-teacher conference. Just pk4 so not a big deal yet, but why so aggressive about having them reading and so little concern about learning math concepts?

[Anonymous]

At our P-T conferences (1st and 3rd), more time was spent on reading than math but it was about a 60-40 split. I liked what I heard, particularly regarding differentiation in the classroom. We will be looking for even more math since both kids like it.

[Anonymous]

Pre-k/K is a little early to notice it, but, by 5th or 6th grade, you will see that some DCPS schools are about a year ahead of schools in other parts of the country, as far as math subjects go. The problem, though, is the kids are only touching on the more difficult math subjects. So, while your kid may be taking algebra before those kids in the suburbs, he/she would have a really tough time if he/she transferred - too many holes. However, their reading and writing will be solid - with all the emphasis on nonfiction nowadays, these kids are learning to write better than their counterparts in other areas.

[Anonymous]

14:11, do kids have trouble in MCPS if leaving DCPS in 4 or 5 grade? Anyone else with experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:11, do kids have trouble in MCPS if leaving DCPS in 4 or 5 grade? Anyone else with experience?

MCPS uses curriculum 2.0, which is their way of implementing common core (implemented in DC also).

So technically students should not have much difficulty. But Common Core does not have any published books or textbooks and as far as I know schools/teachers don't have a unified methodology. If the teacher is really good in math and hard working, then your kid should be alright. If not, then there are problems -- same with MCPS schools but since the schools are larger, grade levels get together and prepare the daily curriculum as a team so that every teacher in the school is doing the same thing.

A few parents/teachers like this unified method of doing math. However many do not love it especially at the upper grades where algebra is not taught in a cohesive and logical sequence and so much time is given to the writing component of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Math here sucks, period. There's a reason we are soooooo far behind the rest of the world

That's why we went to Basis. There are other problems there and things are not perfect, but the emphasis on math and the other sciences is undeniable.
Repeat, things are far from perfect. I can already see the replies to this post accusing me to be a booster (which I'm not).

[Anonymous]

Any ideas on how to address this problem besides Kumon?

[Anonymous]

U mean what to do at home or how to fix dcps?

[Anonymous]

Which math program does your school use?

[Anonymous]

Our parent-teacher conference spent more time on reading, but as far as their daily schedule & homework, I feel like my daughter's 1st grade class is spending a reasonable amount of time on math.

Keep in mind that at this stage, science & social studies are both covered in conjunction with reading -- so reading time isn't just about phonemes and context clues and spelling, it's also discussing the content of what they're reading.