VA math changes - ways to speak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Thank you for this. I wonder if there will be an AAP track and honors classes for MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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:
***
-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)
***

Thank you for the notes. 4 years of material + extra stats concepts = 3 courses?? That's some interesting math right there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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:
***
-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)
***

Thank you for the notes. 4 years of material + extra stats concepts = 3 courses?? That's some interesting math right there.

And for the weakest students, so they can have a pathway to calculus. Nay, they will be forced onto the calculus path, after they went to all this trouble putting in all these extra classes because everyone doesn't need calculus.
It would be easier to make pre-algebra open enrollment in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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:
***
-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)
***

Thank you for the notes. 4 years of material + extra stats concepts = 3 courses?? That's some interesting math right there.

And for the weakest students, so they can have a pathway to calculus. Nay, they will be forced onto the calculus path, after they went to all this trouble putting in all these extra classes because everyone doesn't need calculus.
It would be easier to make pre-algebra open enrollment in 7th grade.

Nothing would preclude school districts from doing that.

From the VDOW perspective, kids just need to check off their list of SOL requirements - doesn't matter how the districts get it done. Just like today.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Are there any recommended math curriculums? Spiraled or not? What do they do in the areas with good schools (MA, NY, etc)?

Singapore Math is my recommendation. Singapore is known for its excellent math programs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_math

+1 Singapore Math has a nice balance. Not spiraling.

Friend pulled kids to homeschool. One child was in AAP in FCPS. Kid only tested on grade (instead of a year ahead as expected) in Singapore math.

We homeschooled our kindergartner instead of doing DL and Singapore Math has been amazing. My friend who has homeschooled all her kids recommended it.

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.

Which Singapore math text do do you recommend for homeschool?

Like several others, I like Primary Math Us Ed. for grades 1-6 https://www.singaporemath.com/programs/primary-mathematics/

This is the original, so there's a *lot* of supplemental material and used copies of the Home Instructor's guide & textbook floating around. (The workbook is consumable, but not particularly expensive.)

[Anonymous]

Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

Possibly but everyone should reach out to whoever the plan to vote for and ask questions. They will probably not say much because they don’t want to lose the votes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

You should read up on latest so you don’t sound like a low-info rube.

They are proposing to mix up the course content to blend it together, not removing acceleration or advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

You should read up on latest so you don’t sound like a low-info rube.

They are proposing to mix up the course content to blend it together, not removing acceleration or advanced classes.

So you’re telling me the elementary and middle school advanced academic and honors classes will still be around? Advanced academics for gifted kids starts in 3rd where they skip a grade level math. Since you read it all, tell me if that’s true. I don’t see any acceleration until possibly 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

You should read up on latest so you don’t sound like a low-info rube.

They are proposing to mix up the course content to blend it together, not removing acceleration or advanced classes.

So you’re telling me the elementary and middle school advanced academic and honors classes will still be around? Advanced academics for gifted kids starts in 3rd where they skip a grade level math. Since you read it all, tell me if that’s true. I don’t see any acceleration until possibly 6th grade.

VDOE isn’t changing any of that. That has always been up to the individual school districts.

Latest webinar from last night:
https://youtu.be/1YxDjg2G0Qw

[Anonymous]

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml

The implementation of VMPI would still allow for student acceleration in mathematics content according to ability and achievement. It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

Local school divisions will still have plenty of flexibility to create courses aligned to the standards to meet the needs of all students; and provide opportunities for all students to advance through the curriculum based on their learning needs. School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

[Anonymous]

Go look at the current SOLs. There is just a single set of standards for each grade level. School districts don’t stick with *just* that path today. That is just the bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go look at the current SOLs. There is just a single set of standards for each grade level. School districts don’t stick with *just* that path today. That is just the bare minimum.

Here are the actual standards - THIS is what they are updating:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/mathematics/index.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

You should read up on latest so you don’t sound like a low-info rube.

They are proposing to mix up the course content to blend it together, not removing acceleration or advanced classes.

So you’re telling me the elementary and middle school advanced academic and honors classes will still be around? Advanced academics for gifted kids starts in 3rd where they skip a grade level math. Since you read it all, tell me if that’s true. I don’t see any acceleration until possibly 6th grade.

VDOE isn’t changing any of that. That has always been up to the individual school districts.

Latest webinar from last night:
https://youtu.be/1YxDjg2G0Qw

I watched the webinar. It’s unclear if honors classes or an advanced track that parallels the pathway will happen. Their goal is to achieve equity, meaning they do not want students to have different transcripts with advanced track vs non advanced track. This put those with an advanced track at an advantage when it comes to college admissions and SAT scores. Playing field has to be leveled, no head start for anyone! Differential services will be offered to younger students but content will stay within grade level and not advancing to the next level. Sound like the intent of this will replace the gifted program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem like Terry McAuliffe is quiet about these proposed changes.I take his silence as suppressing gifted kids and high achievers.

Possibly but everyone should reach out to whoever the plan to vote for and ask questions. They will probably not say much because they don’t want to lose the votes.

Agree, reach out to them and voice your opinion. Elections will happen way before any of this is finalized so push your district for their take on all of this.