Seeking Phonics, Singapore Math, and Recess

[Anonymous]

too well.

[Anonymous]

Hi, this is the OP. I haven't posted on this thread for a while, but am re-visiting it to say that it would be interesting to discuss the concept of best practice. I work in a field where practices evolve according to new data from research. However, in my busy everyday practice I am not able to step back and think about everything... I am too busy working! Fortunately, there are opportunities to attend professional conferences, journal clubs, and key people that keep everyone abreast of various studies and how that information can practically affect our usual day-to-day work.

I suppose that I am bringing some of that approach to my thinking about education, which is why I found Peg Tyre's book compelling. I will admit that I am not an expert in this area. Since I started this thread, I have read some new articles about education in Finland. It fascinated me that the teachers have a great deal of freedom in regard to curriculum. Teaching is a high status occupation in Finland and draws in students from the top 10%. The idea of focusing on having an excellent caliber of teachers, as opposed to focusing on curriculum has worked well for them. There are many variables besides just curriculum and teachers. It is hard to control for social structure, race, political system, higher education system, geography, and on and on! Despite the complexity of these issues, I still find it very worthwhile to engage in thinking about them and asking "what works?" When we see success, what can we learn from it? At what point can we call something a best practice? Should we ever use that term in reference to education? I am taking a step back to think about the concept of best practice because I used tbe term in an earlier post without thinking it through. I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this topic.

[Anonymous]

http://www.greatschools.org/reading/7094-importance-of-reading-success.gs?page=all

It matters.

[Anonymous]

"What a massive, massive overgeneralization. This certainly doesn't describe the various private schools where I've sent my children. I don't think you have to worry. I don't see any private school welcoming you unless they need to fill slots. The "I pay for this, I get to dictate what you do" doesn't go over to well. And frankly, I wouldn't want to send my children somewhere where parents like you came in with that attitude. I've seen what happens to schools when certain parents try to control things. The schools fair very poorly. The best schools are run by professionals who know what they are doing and keep buttinski parents at arms length.

Good luck out there. I'm glad my children are older so I don't have to worry about your child showing up in their classes."


Not OP here - Going to ignore the personal attacks on my family and my children, since I know that once people resort to that, it just means I've won the argument, and ask a question: why is it, if the privates have such wonderful math programs, why the dismal showing on math competitions, such as the AMC8? If they're receiving such amazing, superior instruction, why are there only one or two kids (plus a couple more from STA) from each school on the AMC8 lists? When researching privates for my older children, I was told to look there to see the strength of the math programs, and I was completely underwhelmed. So if the privates are so superior in the humanities, why not also math?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"What a massive, massive overgeneralization. This certainly doesn't describe the various private schools where I've sent my children. I don't think you have to worry. I don't see any private school welcoming you unless they need to fill slots. The "I pay for this, I get to dictate what you do" doesn't go over to well. And frankly, I wouldn't want to send my children somewhere where parents like you came in with that attitude. I've seen what happens to schools when certain parents try to control things. The schools fair very poorly. The best schools are run by professionals who know what they are doing and keep buttinski parents at arms length.

Good luck out there. I'm glad my children are older so I don't have to worry about your child showing up in their classes."


Not OP here - Going to ignore the personal attacks on my family and my children, since I know that once people resort to that, it just means I've won the argument, and ask a question: why is it, if the privates have such wonderful math programs, why the dismal showing on math competitions, such as the AMC8? If they're receiving such amazing, superior instruction, why are there only one or two kids (plus a couple more from STA) from each school on the AMC8 lists? When researching privates for my older children, I was told to look there to see the strength of the math programs, and I was completely underwhelmed. So if the privates are so superior in the humanities, why not also math?

I did not and would not look at the AMC8 as a measure of math quality at any school.
That said, things are horrible and they need to be cleaned up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP you are asking for best practices in a warm environment.
I am not sure why we don't have schools in the area that can deliver that, but I have my theory.
I think that the parents have not demanded it because that is not the main reason they send their kids to private school.
Also, they have not demanded it because they are not aware (ignorant) of the research.
The schools have not offered it because change means work.

We used Singapore Math at home. We used a tutor who taught phonics. We volunteered. We donated. We participated. We got tired. We left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are asking for best practices in a warm environment.
I am not sure why we don't have schools in the area that can deliver that, but I have my theory.
I think that the parents have not demanded it because that is not the main reason they send their kids to private school.
Also, they have not demanded it because they are not aware (ignorant) of the research.
The schools have not offered it because change means work.

We used Singapore Math at home. We used a tutor who taught phonics. We volunteered. We donated. We participated. We got tired. We left.

Hold the door for me, because we're coming too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"IMHO, you might consider whether there are professional educators at some of these schools who know more than you do about which programs are best."

Yes, don't try and hurt your pretty little brain figuring out tricky things like how to educate your own child.

Um, home schoolers have quite a bit of success.
The sad thing is that this is not rocket science or brain surgery, it can be done at the kitchen table.

Define success. As a college professor, the few homeschooled kids I've had stuck out like ore thumbs. They received good grades (not the best grades, good ones), but were socially awkward. A successful child, IMO, is well-rounded.

N=? Math professor?

[Anonymous]

Phonics is such a K-1 issue. Think a little more long term in terms of curriculum and school environment.