Pursuit of Excellence in Camdenton Public Schools: Is This What Success Looks Like?

Monday, March 2, 2009

Is This What Success Looks Like?

To really get a full look at what "success stories" according to Pearson (the publisher of Investigations) really looks like.. just take a look and see:

Vestavia Hills West Elem School, AL
DROPPED

Naperville CUSD 203, IL
DROPPING

Framingham School District, MA
DROPPED

Anoka-Hennepin ISD 11, MN

DROPPING

Inver Grove District 199, MN
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Little Falls ISD 482, MN
DROPPING

Staples-Motley ISD 2170, MN
DROPPED

Stillwater District 834, MN
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Waconia District 110, MN
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White Bear Lake 624, MN
Text Book Review Underway (may drop – confirm in late 3/09) Grant MSP (Math Science Partnership) funds now depleted

Columbia District 93, MO
DROPPED

Greece, Central, NY
DROPPING

Penfield Central, NY
DROPPED AS CORE PROGRAM

Pittsford Central, NY
DROPPED AS CORE PROGRAM

Syracuse City School District, NY
DROPPED

Coventry Local School District, OH
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Lebanon City School District, OH
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Painesville City School District, OH
DROPPED

Three Rivers Local School District, OH
DROPPED

Wickliffe, OH
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Gervais School District 1, OR
DROPPED

Sutherlin School District 130, OR
DROPPING

Chariot Regional District, RI
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Alpine District, Utah
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(Banned by USOE as primary text materials 2007)
Utah State Office of Education; state legislature initiative 2009 requires funding for Singapore Math

Arlington District 16, WA
DROPPING

Bellevue District 405, WA
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Clover Park District 400, WA
DROPPING

Eastmont School District 206, WA
DROPPING

Lake Stevens District 4,WA
DROPPING

Oak Harbor, WA
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Richland School District 400, WA
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Black River Falls, WI
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La Crosse, WI
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River Falls, WI
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Superior, WI
DROPPING

For anyone on the fence as to whether or not Investigations is failing your child (despite the fact that your child is getting an A or B as EVERY other child is)...take a look at all of the schools from across the United States and tell me that our children are not on the fast track to failure. As I have said over and over again...it is only a matter of time before our scores will force the administration to rethink this decision they have made for our children. How many of you want for it to take 6-7 years to figure it out? If these are "success stories" according to the publisher of Investigations from just 2 years ago, can you imagine what the failures must look like?

As we were reminded in a recent school board meeting by an administrator..."You cannot always believe everything the publisher says". We could not agree more after looking at these FACTS! So, the question remains..."why are we using this type of teaching? Show us some real success stories. Show us the FACTS! We are having lots of trouble believing since no one is telling us anything. Tell us why you are doing this to our kids, please. For some of us parents, we believe the clock it ticking and our childrens' futures are at stake. We do not trust at this point. Our childrens' reading scores tell the story, and now you have taken them down the fast track to failure with this new very controversial choice of math. Forgive us if we believe time is of the essence! We need change NOW!

If you are growing weary of no explanations or any offer to communicate with us, then remember how important it is to vote in April!

Please read this whole report at: Independent_Survey_-_Math_Investigations_Success_Stories.pdf It is a MUST READ!!!

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

Monday, March 2, 2009

Is This What Success Looks Like?

Read This Very Important Research And Then Contact Your State Officials

How We Got Here

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Damage Control

"Simple Math"