Reply to Excellent summary about what is so wrong about the MCPS math curriculum

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Reply to "Excellent summary about what is so wrong about the MCPS math curriculum"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DS was in the pilot year of 2.0 in second.  So, I have no idea if things have improved since then.  It was clear the teacher was very alarmed by the new approach.  We set up a conference because all they were doing were story problems involving two-digit addition without an algorithm.  She said there were enrichment materials for anyone like DS who had mastered the material and we were right to ask.  We said if it's story problems about three-digit addition without an algorithm, that's not going to help.  Sure enough that's what started coming home.  The teacher's hands were completely tied.  But at the end of the year she was able to get DS moved to the accelerated math group (which still existed in those days) and that allowed him to avoid 2.0 until 5th grade when the compacted 5 curriculum was rolled out.  [/quote]

I'm the PP @9:54.  My DC was also in 2nd grade the year 2.0 was introduced. The rollout was not very good, I agree.  I tried to force DC to learn the algorithm method because I thought the way they were learning wasn't good.  DC rejected my help as DC is good at math and really didn't need my help. I was frustrated, but let it go.   Turns out, all was fine in 3rd when they did learn the algorithms a long with other  methods.  They were laying the foundation in 2nd grade. I also did a lot more research on some of the methods they were/are teaching, and it now makes sense why they teach it the way they do.

DC is now in compacted math and uses the standard algorithm to do math.   My now 2nd grader's math worksheets look a bit different than DC#1's worksheets when this DC was in 2nd, so looks like there was some improvement.  I'm pretty satisfied with what my now 2nd grader is learning in math:  money unit, though at times I do wish they pick up the pace a bit, but I understand that this is a large public school with varying needs.  I don't think 2nd graders need to be tracked at such an early age.  This DC does get ES opportunities, though.

I do think that some teachers/schools were better at teaching the new math than others.[/quote]
Thanks for the update, I had gleaned from other comments that there is now more going on in second grade than that year which was truly stark.  My DS is now in sixth so even a guinea pig for what your oldest experienced.  I'm sure the improvements are in part due to the initial outcry from parents and teachers so it doesn't do to be too complacent as they are still rolling out courses this year.[/quote]

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