The Loudoun County Public School System is currently using "TERC - Investigations in Numbers, Data and Space" (Math Investigations) exclusively for math instruction at four pilot elementary schools. All other elementary schools are using a blended approach with two units of Math Investigations being taught every quarter. Expanding Math Investigations full time to all the elementary schools is currently under consideration. LCPS charged the Math Review Committee with reviewing the current overall math program and making recommendations to the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. My concern is that the recommendation of the Math Review Committee will be to expand Math Investigations.

I am opposed to Math Investigations because it does not teach some of the most fundamental basics of math. It does not stress memorization of math facts. An example of memorizing a math fact would be knowing that 5+6=11 or 4*6=24 without having to count using some sort of manipulative. Math Investigations does not cover the standard algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Therefore, the concepts of "carrying the one", "borrowing the one", stacked multiplication and long division are not taught. Finally, the concept of the least common denominator is not covered. I find these to be critical fundamentals. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education in the Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel stresses in its number one recommendation that students should "achieve automaticity as appropriate (e.g., with addition and related subtraction facts), develop flexible, accurate, and automatic execution of the standard algorithms".

I encourage every parent to research "TERC - Investigations in Numbers, Data and Space". If you have concerns about this program potentially being used full time to teach your child math, let those concerns be known to your child's teacher, principal and your school board representative. If your child's teacher and principal are unaware that full time Math Investigations may be expanded, you can point them to the "Math Review Committee Summary June 08" which states "LCPS would gather data on the achievement results from instructional efforts using Math Investigations program prior to determining if the program should be expanded."

A special class for children focusing on learning math skills while moving, will soon be taking summer enrollment for those children exiting first grade.

A special class for children focusing on learning math skills while moving, will soon be taking summer enrollment for those children exiting first grade.

I'm at a loss as to why 'Strategies' are relevant to the domain of elementary mathematics instruction. Sure, strategic thinking is valuable.