Pursuit of Excellence in Camdenton Public Schools: How Do You Like Them Apples?

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

How Do You Like Them Apples?

For those of you at the school board meeting last night, thank you. We did learn some news that confused all of us in attendance. We learned that Osage Beach Elementary School's 3rd and 4th grades are supplementing with Rocket Math, and Hurricane Deck Elementary School's 3rd and 4th grade are supplementing with Rocket Math also. In addition Dogwood, Hurricane Deck, and Osage Beach Elementary Schools' grades K - 2 are also supplementing with Rocket Math. The only 3rd and 4th graders NOT being offered supplements outside of the curriculum in our district are our Hawthorn students. This is unacceptable! After three months of begging for strong supplements for our children in Hawthorn we have only been met with frustration and no real definitive direction on what those will be. HOW UNFAIR IS THIS? HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

For those of you wondering what Rocket Math is...it teaches the basics. It is "drill and kill". It is traditional math. (It is everything we have been asking for in recent weeks...we just had no idea that it was being used for some, but not ALL kids in our district.)

How can it be recognized that Everyday Math and Investigations cannot "stand alone" and require supplementation for all other elementary students in our district other than the kids in Hawthorn and Oak Ridge? WHAT? WHO DECIDED THIS FOR OUR CHILDREN? Once again...what is going on? How can this be fair? Why is there not equality? Why is there not the same quality of education offered for all children? Someone now tell us that our children ARE NOT GUINEA PIGS? YOU WILL NOT CONVINCE US THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT YOUR EXPERIMENT!!!! We let our school board know that we fully object and EXPECT the same treatment for our children in Hawthorn. The question was also asked...why is this just now becoming public information? There was no answer for this question. Big surprise.

Parents, make your voice heard. Let our district officials know how ridiculously unfair this is! CALL THEM AND DEMAND THE SAME FOR OUR CHILDREN IN HAWTHORN AND OAK RIDGE. Our 5th and 6th graders MUST have supplements also. This is ridiculous. Let your voices be heard! What is good for one is good for all, don't you think?

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

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Read This Very Important Research And Then Contact Your State Officials

How We Got Here

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Damage Control

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