Anonymous wrote:I've talked with DC's teacher and was told she'd assign more appropriate work but nothin so far and not sure what she'll do even if she does assign something. DC is capable of waaaaay more advanced math and is being forced to start at a level well below DC's skill level (new to FCPS). What is this torture? What can I do? I was thinking he could plow through this at home to get to a more appropriate level but that seems like it's going to take a long boring time.

Help! DC enjoys math and I would like for school time to be spent actually learning something new.

To the question in bold:

This torture (as you put it) is FCPS’ obsession with racial equity.

Specifically, FCPS leadership has repeatedly stated that academics are NOT their first priority. Their first and overarching priority is: racial equity.

FCPS wants to “close the racial achievement gap from the top down.” Same method used by NYC and Seattle public schools: if you remove opportunities for the top performing kids, those kids will do worse on standardized tests, and the racial achievement gap will appear smaller.

FCPS defines that as a success.

Anonymous wrote:I eventually sent in a note that my child would not be attempting this broken program again. There was no reason for my kid to be tortured. The program was really glitchy back then and caused him to have to repeat levels incessantly for manual mistakes unrelated to math (he has a physical disability).

To the teacher?

Your kid isn't as smart as you think she is.

I eventually sent in a note that my child would not be attempting this broken program again. There was no reason for my kid to be tortured. The program was really glitchy back then and caused him to have to repeat levels incessantly for manual mistakes unrelated to math (he has a physical disability).

Take her computer home, and have her just do all the levels on her own time. She'll catch up to her level.

No

Anonymous wrote:ST Math is child abuse. I dont know who I hate more pedophiles or ST Math.

Pedophilia is a mental illness, not a crime. Sexual molestation is a crime.

My kid has finally reached the grade at his school where he doesn't have to ST math.

Hallelujah!

He was very happy

Anonymous wrote:Somehow my 1st grader figured out he could access it at home and now is asking for a computer so he can do it.

Watching him do it, do I think ST math should be the only math instruction? Definitely not. However, it seemed like a great supplement for problem solving, concepts, and sticking with it when something doesn't work right away. None of the animations took more than a few seconds.

It would be great if it were a bit more adaptive.

Have mercy, get the boy redbird or ALEKS or Zearn or mathbrix or something

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I compete against each other after the kids are asleep. With enough wine and bourbon it gets fun

seems like a bad idea for a work night

My spouse and I compete against each other after the kids are asleep. With enough wine and bourbon it gets fun

Somehow my 1st grader figured out he could access it at home and now is asking for a computer so he can do it.

Watching him do it, do I think ST math should be the only math instruction? Definitely not. However, it seemed like a great supplement for problem solving, concepts, and sticking with it when something doesn't work right away. None of the animations took more than a few seconds.

It would be great if it were a bit more adaptive.

My 3rd grader LOVES it

ST Math is child abuse. I dont know who I hate more pedophiles or ST Math.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ST Math is a horrible program. There is an absolutely zero support, directions are minimal with no examples, and the time spent waiting for the animation is a waste of time. With that being said, there are some real opportunities here to make a lot of money. I’m considering making a site that provides visual examples to assist students and parents. For a small fee of course. ST Math could do way better by this program and it’s evident somebody is definitely getting some kickback for requiring districts to push this on our student's.

Khan Academy already exists

I think they mean a site to assist parents/kids in getting through ST Math.

Thing is, this thing is apparently somewhat customizable. The teacher can set the starting level, control how many attempts kids get before they have to start over, etc. but a lot of them don't bother, making it even worse than it already is.

My kid's teacher set it, and it was fine for a day, and then it reverted to something way below the current level. Not sure if DC just messed up enough times (because until you figure out what the system is even asking, that's totally easy to do even for a math kid) or what, but then DC had to slog back through a bunch of below grade level stuff to get back on level. Teacher was checking on their ST Math minutes and my kid is a rule follower, so not doing it would have been more stressful than the slog.