Reply to VA math changes - ways to speak out

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How can you argue it’s offering multiple pathways when every kid, regardless of level, is in the exact same math class (the Bobby one offered) until 11th grade? That is the opposite of multiple pathways.

Also, please explain in detail how this “levels the playing field.”
And I fail to see how families hiring tutors or not, or helping their kids or not, should have anything to do with what math classes are offered. Multiple levels need to be offered by 9th grade at the very latest. At the end of the day, WHY a kid is behind or ahead or on grade level matters left than meeting that student’s current needs. [/quote]

Why? Why do multiple levels of math need to be offered? There aren't multiple levels of any other subjects offered. There will still be AP courses. That is all the differentiation your kid will need. [b]It is going to be so much better for kids to be able to relate and apply math to real scenarios than to memorize and regurgitate formulas.[/b] This change will make math more interesting and engaging, both for kids who are math whizzes and kids who are a bit behind their peers.[/quote]

Relating and applying math is awesome, definitely need more of that.  But that also has to exist with memorizing and regurgitating formulas. You have to know that stuff in order to apply it! A child who is struggling with basic arithmetic or memorizing basic multiplication facts needs the help to master that so that they can then engage in the application stuff. So the options seem to be --  we slow down the whole class while they master that and the others play computer games, move the class at the pace of the kids that are ready to have fun with the application part while the strugglers are left further behind, or break the class into appropriate ability groups (oh no, tracking!!) with the support of teachers aids, gifted resource teachers, special ed resource teachers so all the students can have their needs met. Which ever approach they take in ES, you are still going to get to MS and then HS with different students having different interest and ability levels with math. Although, if you take approach #1 they may have convinced a lot of kids who do have a strong aptitude for math that it is boring which I guess the DOE will take as a win because you won't have those kids being so annoying as to perform better than their peers.[/quote]

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