Ted Nutting, a retired math teacher in Seattle, said the key to closing achievement gaps is explicit instruction meaning explaining concepts in a clear, straightforward way, showing each student how to use them and following up with lots of practice – including rigorous tests.
Incredibles 2 Trailer Has a Veiled Common Core Math Reference
The Incredibles 2 trailer made a veiled reference to Common Core math as Mr. Incredible struggles to help his son, Dash, with his math homework.
The Assessments Are Rigged
Wendy Hart: Instead of wondering how kids are doing on state assessments and whether a school is “good” based on the assessment scores, we need to be asking what are these assessments supposed to be measuring and how do we know they really are measuring what they claim?
Massachusetts’ New Standards Are Still Inferior to Pre-2010 Standards
The Pioneer Institute released a report co-written by Mark Bauerlein, R. James Milgram, and Jane Robbins that reviews Massachusetts new academic standards.
Look to China for Math?
The UK is investing heavily in textbooks used in schools in Shanghai, China; perhaps the United States could benefit by looking at their methods as well.
Drilling “Rote Understanding”
Barry Garelick: To overturn students’ “doing without knowing” reformers have created students for whom “understanding” foundational math is not even “doing” math.
The Destructive Capacity of David Coleman
Jane Robbins: Since Common Core architect David Coleman took over as president of the College Board, the scandals or at least embarrassments have come fast and furious.
Math Professor Makes Excellent Point About New Way of Assessing Students
Wayne Bishop, a professor of math at Cal State University Los Angeles, explains the problem of shifting to make multiple choice assessments more verbal.
Blame the Textbooks for Poor Common Core Implementation!
The EdReports.org gave poor reviews to four out of the first five Common Core math textbooks they reviewed, and they are funded by the Gates Foundation.
Interesting Findings in Fordham’s Teacher Survey on Common Core Math
Shane Vander Hart looks at some of the results of the Fordham Institute’s recent survey of K-8 math teachers addressing Common Core Math.