"Everyday Math" program: Does it add up? (ExtRa CreDiT # 3)

How is basic math most commonly learned? Multiplication tables, for instance, were learned for the most part by doing them multiple times to master them. Now, the Beaufort County School District is moving away from that type of elementary school math education to a controversial method called "Everyday Mathematics." Basically, Everyday Math, a K-6 curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School of Mathematics, uses a method called "spiraling," where a teacher spends just a few days on a topic and moves on. Classes come back to the topic later and build on the information learned. This curriculum heavily relies on games and other fun activities. Which is very different to what most students are used to. Basically, Everyday Math, a K-6 curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School of Mathematics, uses a method called "spiraling," where a teacher spends just a few days on a topic and moves on. Classes come back to the topic later and build on the information learned. Everyday Math has been criticized nationwide, both from parents who don't understand some of the teaching methods used, and mathematicians who say students who are taught by that method simply don't learn the basics. which has lead it to become a very controversial topic in these schools. But according to district officials, they say strong test scores in Bluffton schools surely prove that their method works. I think this curriculum is not really good because in my opinion i think students should develop a strong base in math buy consistently solving problems. this way, they have them memorized so when they use them in the future for more complex problems, it would be much easier and faster for them. Overall, I disagree with this "Everyday Math" program.

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/248418.html

At L.A. school, Singapore math has added value (ExTRa CREdiT # 2)

In 2005, just 45% of the fifth-graders at Ramona Elementary School in Hollywood scored at grade level on a standardized state test. In 2006, that figure rose to 76%. What made this huge difference? The difference between the two years may have been Singapore math. In the beginning of the 2005-06 school year, Ramona began using textbooks developed for use in Singapore, a Southeast Asian city-state whose students consistently rank No. 1 in international math comparisons. Ramona's math scores rapidly rose. "It's wonderful," said Principal Susan Arcaris. "Seven out of 10 of the students in our school are proficient or better in math, and that's pretty startling when you consider that this is an inner-city, Title 1 school." Ramona easily qualifies for federal Title 1 funds, which are intended to alleviate the effects of poverty. Nine of every 10 students at the school are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. For the most part, these are the children of immigrants, the majority from Central America, and some from Armenia. Nearly six in 10 students speak English as a second language. The decision to approve the books could place California ahead of the national curve. The National Mathematics Advisory Panel, appointed by President Bush, will issue a report Thursday that is expected to endorse K-8 math, in many ways, are very similar to the Singapore curriculum. Although this curriculum is very successful in many ways, not all teachers like it, and not all use it. The Singapore books aren't easy for teachers to use without training, and some veterans are more comfortable with the curriculum they have always followed. But you can tell when you walk into a classroom using Singapore math. The Singapore curriculum "requires a considerable amount of math background on the part of the teachers who are teaching it," said Milgram, "and in the elementary grades, most of our teachers aren't capable of teaching it. . . . It isn't that they can't learn it; it's just that they've never seen it." So based on the teachers attitude towards this curriculum, the students will either improve or just stay the same or even get worse. I thought this article was very intriguing how America is restoring to countries in Asia for help in education. I hope this curriculum doesn’t come to New Jersey because based on this article, it would be very hard.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-math9mar09,1,2133870.story?track=rss

Connecting to the world through math (EXTra CrEdit # 1)

Connecting to the world through math

MONTROSE- Excitement for math was in the air Wednesday, March 15, as local elementary school students tested their skills against thousands of other students around the world in a World Math Day competition. This day, more than 150 countries were taking part of a competition for students where they had a chance to go head to head against students from places such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and El Salvador via the World Wide Web. During each 17-question round, the students rushed to be the fastest to answer addition, subtraction and multiplication problems. World Math Day takes place every March 5. The main point of having this day is to unite the world through numbers. More than 1 million students from about 20,000 schools competed in the 24-hour competition, according to World Math Day figures. About 75 students competed Wednesday from Northside. Each student had a chance to compete for about 30 minutes. What made this more engaging for student was that after they would win by placing first, they would receive ten credits. These credits contribute to buying clothes for their character. Though the characters grab the students' attention, the ultimate goal is to answer as many questions as possible in the 24-hour period. Last year, Hong Kong had the most individual contributors, and two Hong Kong schools also held the top two places for school contributors. The UK was second for individual contributors with Portugal in third. The top 15 mathletes receive a special World Math Day trophy; all students competing receive a participation certificate. I thought this competition is very cool. Mainly because you get to compete with kids all around the world. Which could be very entertaining and competitive. Overall, I thought it was very interesting.
http://www.montrosepress.com/articles/2008/03/09/news/doc47cf6eaaeef1c679362852.txt

Fake flipper sought for sea turtle

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - When tourists found a 5-inch green sea turtle bloody and missing three of her flippers, the people who run a hospital for the endangered animals here gave her little chance of survival. But the turtle didn’t give up and survived, due to injections of antibiotics and a forced diet of squid. Somehow, she swam with just one flipper, even though she can only move in counterclockwise circles and has to push her now 10-pound body off the bottom with her head to breathe. Since her rescue, her wounds have healed very nicely. But the problem is that she can’t swim very well. What her doctors are looking to give her for the future is a sea turtle fitted prosthetic arm. If this operation is successful, this sea turtle will be the first to have a prosthetic arm. Three flipper turtles that get injured can go back to sea and two flipper turtles can survive in captivity after given the right care. As for those left with only one after predator attacks or run-ins with boat propellers are usually killed. But this turtle was spared because an intern begged for a chance to nurse her back to health the summer she was found. Since then, she has adapted and grown to normal size for her age. But because an Atlantic green sea turtle like her can grow to 450 pounds and live a century or so, her long-term prognosis with only one flipper is not promising. She could be destined to shallow water for the rest of her life, which becomes a quality of life issue. This triggered the idea for her caregivers to make her a kind of bionic turtle. “If we can do something for other turtles, then keeping her alive is worthwhile," said Guillen. "We're hoping we can accomplish something with Allison that will benefit other turtles." I found this article to be very interesting. At first, I wondered why they are trying so hard to keep one animal alive. Well now it make sense to me because she is going to be tested on for prosthetic turtle flippers. And if it is successful with her, it could also be successful to all the other impaired turtles. I also think what these doctors are doing is very kind to the turtle.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080229/ap_on_sc/bionic_turtle;_ylt=AiYzh8EmS0v2LHUY6LmsD_QPLBIF