Earlier quoted context omitted.
Spend some extra time figuring out why they're struggling. But I suspect what you have in mind is something else, something more along the lines of leaving them behind.
Your words. Not mine.
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California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
261–270 of 748 posts
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#262The program is called Equitable Math and it frames current mathematics pedagogy as a mechanism by which White Supremacy is sustained.¹ Note that in a very long multi-part document on White Supremacy, there is absolutely zero mention of Asians, despite that they are somewhere between 15.5% to 17% of the state population.² Program goals includes the de-emphasis of Algebra for middle school and Calculus for high school.…
For anyone interested, I think it's probably worth actually digging into Equitable Math's "Dismantling Racism in Mathematics Instruction" [0]. I just skimmed some of it based on your link, and the majority of it just reads like "stop teaching math poorly." I was looking for some real burn-down-the-establishment stuff, but it's honestly pretty prosaic. For example: > "There is a greater focus on getting the "right" an…
You're looking at the Bailey, not the Motte.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#263Earlier quoted context omitted.
Looking out from this moment in history, if I wanted to prepare someone for the future, STEM wouldn't be the main focus. I know it's anathema to say. In a world where computers fold proteins and predict programmer's intentions, the value of technical knowledge is showing decay. In the world we're hurtling toward, we don't need people who can recite the Pythagorean theorem. We need people who can cooperate with other…
I would say a strong counter to your argument is that Covid highlighted the need for much better STEM education, because of how painfully obvious it was that so many do not understand "the science". That's in quotes because that's the phrase that was bandied about so often.
> I would say a strong counter to your argument is that Covid highlighted the need for much better STEM education, because of how painfully obvious it was that so many do not understand "the science".
I'd argue that information literacy is more important. I know plenty of STEM-credentialed people who might have insight into their narrow STEM field, but are effectively data illiterate when it comes to evaluating data that's from outside of their field of expertise.
Even then, I don't think the majority of the people that COVID exposed as "not understanding the science" really don't understand it. It's just that they don't care. We're mistaking their lack of giving a shit about the truth for a genuine misunderstanding of the science.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#264Earlier quoted context omitted.
This "single standard" to me is like outlawing adjustable seats in cars. In the UK, they start separating students into separate tracks around 8th grade. Some will excel in math and science, so give them the opportunity to really go for it and take hard classes. Others will excel in other areas. But if everyone is lumped together in the same bucket and forced into the same mold, the average student's highest level of…
Get labelled incorrectly in grade 8 and get shutout of any advanced math/science classes which disqualifies you from a good university program.
And you know this because you've seen it happen? In NL, pre-selection happens at 12 years but actual specialisation doesn't happen until 15 years old. That's three years for children to switch tracks, try things and see what works best for them. And even then, students can pursue an upgrade track after graduation that would still grant them access to university at the cost of an extra year of secondary schooling (which also gives them an extra year of maturity, which often also helps).
I don't know how it is in the UK, but your comment strikes me as a typical boogieman from someone who hasn't actually seen the system in action.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#265Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#266Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The students with a delayed introduction caught up so quickly that the delay didn’t matter Yes and there are some kids that act up or learn to hate education and the system for being forced into what amounts to remedial classes. Sometimes the brightest children are the most difficult precisely because they're not being challenged. The ideal would be to have every student learn at their own pace. Some children could…
Gifted programs do very little or nothing as far as most studies can tell. Any gains in scores are very small, and they don’t appear to make any meaningful difference in student engagement or motivation. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/01623737211008919 https://www.nber.org/papers/w17089 These programs are relatively expensive, and there’s a strong argument the gifted programs should be overhauled, or that t…
> Gifted programs do very little or nothing as far as most studies can tell. Any gains in scores are very small, and they don’t appear to make any meaningful difference in student engagement or motivation.
I really don't need a study telling me my child won't benefit from a gifted program. It's a parent's right to decide for themselves. I personally know many people that have benefitted and it made their childhood bearable.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#267Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#268Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good for you. I met kids in 4th grade who struggled with their multiplication tables. What do you do for them?
Spend some extra time figuring out why they're struggling. But I suspect what you have in mind is something else, something more along the lines of leaving them behind.
This thread is full of some of the least empathetic people on the planet. Some people just struggle with stuff that others don’t.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#269Here's a revolutionary idea that pretty much all of the world adopts, if students are having trouble with a topic, get them to do more of it, instead of running away from it. I always find it hilarious that the pre college education in US is so messed up. Instead of doing Algebra 1, Algebra 2, calculus, geometry as one subject that you do in a year and then completely forgetting about it till the next time you have t…
This policy has nothing to do with the topic of algebra. This is code for advanced math, because algebra is typically considered advanced for < 9th grade children. Since the organizations feel ashamed that they're failing certain demographics as evidenced by being under-represented in the advanced classes, they're just scrapping the advanced classes for everyone. Truly disgraceful
In the USA, we fight fires by turning off smoke alarms.
Re: California moves to recommend delaying algebra to 9th grade statewide
#270It just boggles that these people, when confronted with poor math scores think, "we need more instruction about pronouns, etc…" Talk about non-sequiturs.
This is the left-wing version of discouraging the teaching of evolution. Unfortunately in California these irrational folks have a big influence.
From my own experience, I would have been more enthusiastic with less homework, less rote problem solving (of dozens per night) and more visualization. Unfortunately animation/video wasn't really a thing until recently, but might help in the future.