I had a chance to attend the districts’ presentation of our new math program this evening. Everyday Math is the name and having fun is the game. I’ve always believed that children learn the same concepts in different ways. This math program promotes these different ways of learning for each child. They will naturally start using the concepts he or she is most comfortable with. It uses games and a lot of interactive materials. The most important part of this program is it makes math fun. I know the old school thinking is "school shouldn’t have to be fun" but I think everyone can agree that if it’s fun, kids are eager. I wanted to plat with some of the stuff I saw on the demonstration tables. I didn’t get to play with dominoes and cards and fancy rulers when I was in school. It looked as if all of our teachers were there to help explain what our kids are doing. A big thanks to all of our elementary teachers that helped out at the events held throughout the district.
I’d like to hear some feedback from parents who attended any of the Everyday Math events. I found it very engaging. I hope to see more of our curriculum move to programs like this. This is what I think our tax dollars were intended for. Books and materials. Let the academic conversations begin!
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6 comments:
Kellie,
I am a grandparent who has a grandson (Ryan) at CFO. He is the quarterback for the JV football team. (I just thought I would mention that). So, hopefully I am allowed to comment on your topic of 'Everyday Math'.
When Ryan was learning to spell words and we were riding in the car, the first words he learned were 'Stop', 'McDonald's', and Wendy's. From there we learned how to read the menu and double check the math on the receipt for our bill.
Later, we read the gas tank meter and calculated how many miles we could travel -- before we needed to 'stop' for more gas. When we needed gas then we calculated how much gas we would add to the half empty gas tank.
We used this technique to discuss fractions before he learned about fractions in school.
If Ryan played my game then we would go to a large empty mall parking lot on Sunday morning and I would reward him -- by teaching him how to drive.
I am impressed with the 'Everyday Math' process. It has the 'problem solving process' embedded in it.
I am currently attempting to get Ryan to come to the BOE meetings to learn more about 'Everyday Leadership'. However, I must warn you that he is resisting.
We need to continue these threads.
We need 'Everyday English'. And, we need 'Everyday Leadership'. We can't grow up and leave home successfully without it.
WARNING: Before you use my advice you may want to read my book called 'Racing Riding Lawn-Mowers on the X-way for Dummies'.
Lou Schott
To: The Kind People who want to solve problems on this blog,
When discussing the topics to be covered in our school, I think we need to ask some questions first. For example, what will our little people need to survive in an information-based society.
I think English and math are required. The ability to use a key board will likely help.
But, what about a foreign language? I studied German. My grand kids have/are studying Spanish.
But, lets add some more information to the discussion. The computers under current development in the research labs involve putting the power of 80 present day computers on one chip. And this design will enable programmers (literate in software languages) to program the 80 computers. These programs will enable multi-tasking. Multi-tasking has not been available to us before.
These next generation computers will translate all foreign languages to all other foreign languages at the speed of thought. And, everyone will be able to carry their personal computers (80 of them) around on the head of their light pen.
If I wanted to compete in the global information-based society and I had to make a choice between learning a software language and learning the German language then I would chose to learn the software language.
What would you do and why?
Lou
To: The Kind People,
When I attended the 'Everyday Math' orientation, they passed out a list of websites related to the topic.
I have posted them on the top page of my website. Please see:
http://tnl3000.com/seeextralinks.aspx .
The plan is to phase in the 'Everyday Math' content K to 3, K to 6, and then K to All. So, in about 3 years the 'Everyday Math' process will be installed.
I think that the processes used in 'Everyday Math' need to be analyzed for what they can contribute to the other content of the school's curriculum.
When this analysis is done then you will find that 'creative problem solving process' is a platform for all of the training/learning actions.
I am aware that the word 'problem' is a PROBLEM for some people. So, we could consider other words like 'challenge', 'opportunity', 'issue', 'concern', or 'question', etc. And, I am aware of the need to use words to beam out realistic images of hope and vision.
At the same time, I am aware that listing and defining the problems that we must resolve before we can get the results of our shared vision is useful and required.
And, I hope this is helpful to the kind people in our community who sincerely want results.
Lou Schott
To: Those who may be interested in 'Everyday Foreign Languages',
Warning: The following comments do not use a word beginning with 'P' and ending in 'm'. -=-=-=-=-
I am aware of the need to have people who can function in a foreign language as they travel in and out of a foreign country.
And, we also need people who can function on project construction sites in foreign lands using the language of the native speaking labor.
Multi-national corporations handle this need by sending the people who work in the international arena to Berlitz Language Classes. These classes focus on listening to and speaking the foreign language.
An international executive might learn 600 words and phrases in the foreign language learning process. They will probably attend a Berlitz class for 6 weeks to 6 months before taking off to the foreign assignment.
I am generally operating on the impression that our foreign language teachers in high school do not teach to meet the above targets.
They teach to meet a higher standard. They teach to create people in their like image. Thus, they teach to create foreign language teachers. This costs a lot of time and money.
And, I question the cost vs benefits. Thus, I think that this topic requires more discussion and better definition.
What do you think?
Lou
In response to beat-a-dead-horse, when it was announced that my daughter's school, Newberry, was closing, I did campaign for the district to look at other options as did Kellie, Leslie and many other parents. I think most parents would have done the same in our shoes. And now, yes, the Newberry closing is a dead horse, but I still expect fiscal responsibility and an equitable education for all of our children from this district. I will not now, or ever, shy away from pointing out areas where I feel they are falling short. I firmly agree that our district’s failings in these areas are a huge embarrassment.
If the facts on my blog are an embarrassment for the district, then perhaps they should consider making some changes in their policies and configuration. If my blog is an embarrassment to the community then we should ask ourselves why we sit idly by and allow our district to be run this way and why we continue to elect board members that are satisfied to do things “the way they’ve always been done.”
Therhesus, please call me Molly, Ms. Benedum was my mother-in-law. I agree that the beauty of “better” is definitely in the eye of the beholder so to speak. I would love to share with you (and anyone else who is interested) my thoughts on issues that face our school district, but this is Kellie’s blog and I don’t want to use her space to present my positions. I do have my own blog, http://mollybenedum.blogspot.com, where I have written about my beliefs on many issues already. Also please feel free to email me if there are specific areas that I haven’t covered that you are wondering about. I’m always looking for new subject matter for my blog. I also enjoy responding to comments on my blog, so if you prefer, feel free to mention in the comments topics that you would like to see discussed.
Thanks for your reply,
Molly Benedum
mollyhansenbenedum@yahoo.com
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