VA math changes - ways to speak out
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Anonymous
Agree many times over on Singapore Math. We started homeschooling this past year and have had a lot of success with it. Note that there are actually a few different versions of the Singapore Math texts, and the Primary/US version (which is what we use) is being revamped and re-released evidently early this summer. |
Anonymous
That sounds like what my (private) high school did. I took a test and was put in an accelerated class called Integrated Math 21X. It didn't work well for me so next trimester I was put into the non-accelerated Integrated Math 220. Took calculus classes in 11th and 12th grade. |
Anonymous
Which Singapore math text do do you recommend for homeschool? |
Anonymous
Integrated Math 1 in that picture(I removed it from the quote) is algebra. This is a charter school, but I have seen a kid in public school in Calif in 9th grade with no advancement, and they are currently covering using parentheses. Not sure if this is arithmetic, or evaluating expressions. |
Anonymous
I saw the WP article today on the VMPI. On one hand, I have some relief. On the other hand, the detracking paper is still on the site. I feel like they make it more clear at the high school level, but leave it muddy in the lower levels (which are the foundation). Any thoughts on where this stands now? |
Anonymous
Maybe they are offering that as a “best practice” but not a requirement. That’s not something that would be defined by the VDOE in the SOLs anyway. That’s something that districts could implement (or not). |
Anonymous
I agree. It's like this now at the high school level. The high schools offer all of these advanced classes but the elementary classes don't prepare you for them. |
Anonymous
I'm reserving a bit of judgement to see what they say tonight. On the one hand, they may be backtracking. But, as they haven't said that they're changing in response to feedback, and the Post article also says that they're not getting rid of Alg 1, 2, and Geometry (which again, they have clearly stated as a goal multiple times over on the webinars) makes me curious if the spokesperson has an accurate grasp of the proposal. |
Anonymous
This is exactly what we have now. They just call the green boxes Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2. |
Anonymous
PP. My high school mixed them all together into an "integrated math" course series. Which was a pain because I'd taken Algebra 1 and 2 but not Geometry in middle school. My middle school had the dumb idea that the advanced class should take geometry in 9th grade with everyone else instead of just going in order. |
Anonymous
This is not the proposed plan, and is more common for advanced students now. The idea is that in some schools in LCPS, many kids, maybe half, take algebra in 7th grade, and they are able to take calculus AB in 11th grade. This is not the top math students, but instead just generally high achieving students not particularly capable in math. They take AB, then take calculus BC for a deeper understanding. With the new pathways, they are likely to not take calculus BC even if available. The proposed plan would have all these kids not getting calculus AB. |
Anonymous
What videos? |
What's surprised me is that they haven't yanked down the Youtube videos yet since that's where the evidence is that we aren't all crazy. 
Anonymous
https://www.singaporemath.com/programs/primary-mathematics/ |
Anonymous
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml |
Anonymous
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I took notes from tonight's meeting for those who couldn't attend. TLDR: as others have said, they definitely have walked back the no acceleration thing. They also slipped in there once that *post calc* would be an option. Also, this time they weren't allowing live commenting on the stream.
Notes: Background on VMPI -They stressed that it will still allow for student acceleration and advanced classes, and that local districts can make decisions how to offer this. -They again stated that Calculus will be an option. -The content of the 'algebra sandwich' is not being eliminated but it *is* being reorganized Foundational Concepts in K-7 -They want to use non-routine problem solving to make everyone 'knowers and doers of math -They actually provided an example of a problem that I thought was pretty good and how they envisioned extensions working. (Problem was, given the dimensions of a closet, what tile would you pick to cover the floor and why? And then I gathered students had to research real tiles and explain what they picked and why, calculate the cost, take into consideration tile shape, covering an area efficiently, etc.) Essential Concepts in 8-10 -Take the content from current Grade 8 (prealgebra), Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and some select concepts from statistics; and turn it into 3 courses worth of content (Essential concepts 8, 9, and 10) -They mentioned 4 focus areas: Investigating with Data, Modeling with Functions, Reasoning with Geometric Figures, Making Sense of Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities. Classes will make connections between these topics -They said they are considering what is needed for ACT/SAT/IB classes -Example problem they provided was, a student might ask a question, take a survey, graph the data, and fit a line to the data. They claim right now you can't do all that till Algebra 2. (I'm dubious on that, but that's what they said.) -Another example problem: student might get a couple data points from a cell phone battery meter, and be asked 'what do you notice' - this would extend into an activity where they might graph how fast the phone battery is charging/depleting Mathematics Pathways Options -They actually showed what some accelerated paths would look like (district might teach the concepts from Math 6, 7, and 8 all in 6 and 7, for example -Next session will cover the pathways classes more Q&A time: -A question about timeline - how is my kid affected? (This has been answered previously, I'm not going to transcribe their answer) -What research supports VMPI? The NCTM 2018 "Catalyzing Change in School Mathematics" -Who is on the implementation team? VDOE, Reps from state community college system, Reps from State Council on Higher Ed. They have consulted with teachers, higher ed faculty, special ed and gifted program groups, military liaison, businesses, and governor's school directors -How will we support students who need intervention/remediation? Districts get to decide. DOE provides professional learning to teachers to help them learn how to help their students who don't get it the first time or forget it after last year. -How will the changes support the "math lovers" Students will have the ability to explore calc *and above*. Students can also take extra electives, and of course, pathways helps students who need math but not calc. -Will this prepare students for calc? Yes. They said students will understand the baseline better and thus do better in calc. -Can parents provide feedback? Yes. They pointed us at the same feedback form, but at the end of the night they mentioned additional stakeholder meetings. -Is there going to be a pilot? They said yes, but they only talked about piloting the 11th-12th classes (which they said would be in 2022-23. They didn't mention any methods by which to evaluate success. In what was the (unintentionally) funniest moments of the evening, they noted they were super excited to have an actual data scientist helping them develop the data science class, and a real actuary helping them develop the financial modeling class. -Next meeting will be May 25th on the 11th/12th pathways classes. -There will be upcoming stakeholder meetings on VMPI's website |