11 years ago Featured

my daughter comes home in tears every single day because she just doesnt get the way they teach math now. stop this experiment.

11 years ago Featured

Note, I realize that some people might not want to sign their name...but please do as it only makes our case stronger. Thank you!

The pilot is eroding my son's love of math. Please end it.

Some helpful links: Official "Investigations" website: https://investigations.terc.edu/ On Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigations_in_Numbers,_Data,_and_Space A study done by the U.S. Department of Education comparing Investigations to other leading math teaching methods: http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/~/media/publications/PDFs/education/mathcurricula_fstsndgrade.pdf (Note, the above study is very long and actually interesting not just in terms of programs but also role of teacher training, teaching specialists, etc....but net net students scored lower when using Investigations and teachers like Investigations the least) A petition at another school and their feedback on Investigations from both their experience and the above referenced study: http://www.pelhammath.com/2012/01/20/federal-study-finds-investigations-students-trail-those-in-other-programs-in-early-years/ An analysis of Investigations and TERC by Bill Quirk, a graduate of Dartmouth College who holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics: http://wgquirk.com/TERC.html And perhaps most interesting...watch at 3rd grader solve a basic math problem using the Investigations method vs. traditional "stack the numbers": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YLlX61o8fg

I was at the board meeting earlier this week and was appalled to hear that they are continuing the "Investigations" pilot. They said they need more time, even though the gymnasium was full of parents speaking out against the program and our experience with it so far this year. Not only do we need to make our voice heard so that they stop the pilot now, but we need to make sure there is NO CHANCE that they pick this as the program going forward. It's not that we are against conceptual math as part of a program to teach our kids, but Investigations has proven itself to be POORLY WRITTEN and TOO CONCEPTUAL with not enough procedure math included (in fact Investigations takes the view that kids don't need to be good at arithmetic today because they can just use calculators or computers, which I personally find to be appalling). Please sign this petition, and please everyone send emails to the school board and administration. I heard they said after the BOE meeting this week they didn't realize the extent that parents were "dissatisfied" with Investigations. MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD FOR THE SAKE OF OUR KIDS!