Pursuit of Excellence in Camdenton Public Schools: School Board Meeting Monday, December 8

Saturday, December 6, 2008

School Board Meeting Monday, December 8

There will be a school board meeting December 8 (MONDAY) at 5:30 at the administration building. I will be there to inform you on what the school board has to say about our current math situation. I know that we are anxious to hear something...anything from them. I hope that happens on Monday. I will keep you informed. For any of you who want to show up and make public comment, that would be great. For those of you who can't attend I will inform you as to what they have to say.

Also...after much concern and many requests, I WILL be doing the same power point presentation that I did a few weeks ago now for our community. This will take place at the Linn Creek Baptist Church on A road. (Highway 54 to A road in Linn Creek. You will see Linn Creek Baptist Church on your left about 2/10 of a mile from Hwy. 54). It will happen this Thursday night, December 11. We will have a free chili supper from 5:30-6:00. We have several excellent cooks bringing their versions of chili, come and pick your favorite. The presentation will take place from 6:00-7:15.

We have invited several of our community officials and our state representatives to attend to learn what is going on with our children. THERE WILL BE FREE CHILDCARE!!! WE WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS MEETING AS BRIEF, BUT AS INFORMATIVE AS POSSIBLE.

Depending on the outcome of the school board meeting on Monday, we will decide whether or not to pursue our petition drive. If the outcome of the school board meeting is not what we are hoping for, then we will start our petition drive that night. Please show up and be informed. Look forward to seeing you all there.

How We Got Here

Harry S. Truman once said...if you cannot convince them, confuse them. Does that ring true for you when it comes to the new math? At this point with our new math curriculum many of us knew something was not quite right. We just could not put our finger on it. We were told how wonderful this "new" math was and how it was working miracles all over the state and our nation. Is it? Well, this site is to explain and educate you on exactly what it is. You will find the truth here. You will find what it is called and what its critics really say about it. You will find that Texas and California will not allow it in their great states. (Good for you Texas and California...if only we would be willing to follow your lead.) You will find that our neighbors in Columbia "kicked it out of their school" also, after several consecutive years of falling test scores. You will find answers to those gut feelings that have been telling you this is wrong. Don't be confused anymore. Be educated. Knowledge is power. Help yourself, so you may help your child. Please look at older posts on the bottom right corner of every page...it will tell you everything you need to know and catch you up on where we have been in this fight and where we are going!

Damage Control

If you want to make sure and REALLY help your child through this here are some helpful hints from one of my new favorite websites: www.pwcteachmathright.com. :

1. Buy flash cards and drill your children on basic age and grade appropriate math facts. Just as children memorize the alphabet they need to commit basic math facts to automatic knowledge. Make it fun, challenge your kids with rewards for correct answers - speed is not critical; you want them to learn the basics without added pressure of time constraints.

2. Teach your children the standard algorithms for addition and subtraction by "stacking" numbers and carrying and borrowing -- the rest of the world uses these most efficient and simple of algorithms; don't buy the Camdenton School's "deeper, conceptual" convoluted algorithm theories.

3. Teach your children (Grade 3) multiplication tables and simple "long" division. Long division is not taught in Investigations...even by 5th grade! It is essential for progression to higher mathematics. Purchase some standard traditional mathematics workbooks and drill the basics. Walmart, K-Mart, school supply stores all stock these.

4. Consider an after school tutoring program to ensure your child doesn't get left behind.

5. Practice, practice, practice - "Investigations" does not provide your children with enough practice in basic computational skills for them to master arithmetic; you will have to make this up at home. 10 problems or so 4-5 days a week will do the trick; once they are proficient they will own the concepts - and have no need for "Investigations" complex strategery...

6. Teach your children what an "algorithm" is. An algorithm is a systematic method of solving a certain kind of problem. Your children must painstakingly explain their work in sentences in "Investigations." Teach them to use standard math algorithms and to write, "Because I used an algorithm," as their explanation...then have them show the fastest most efficient way to solve the problem (which is the standard algorithm).

Pursuit of Excellence in Camdenton Public Schools

Saturday, December 6, 2008

School Board Meeting Monday, December 8

Read This Very Important Research And Then Contact Your State Officials

How We Got Here

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Damage Control

"Simple Math"