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."
Motivated Math Movers. A math class disguised as a gym class.
A special class for children focusing on learning math skills while moving, will soon be taking summer enrollment for those children exiting first grade. This class will use children's motivation of play to teach and reinforce math. The students will be hitting specific math targets while building and participating in obstacle courses, relays, and sports. Numbers will be incorporated into each activity in the children's gym. Math has never been this fun and, surely, has never been this active. For more information, comments, inquiries, and suggestions, please e-mail me at MotivatedMathMovers@gmail.com.
Best of luck, Parents, and keep up the Good work! I have come up with this idea because of all of you who have asked for my help to teach your children Math and make it fun. Thank you for your faith, ideas, and continuing support.
Katie Sorensen
Behavioral Therapist &
Director of Motivated Math Movers
You need to heard this thing off before it gets approved
by your school board. I live in PWC and we're still trying to fight the fight there, despite having almost 5% of the parents of elementary students sign the petition to just be given an alternate choice!
Be sure to check out Dr Stephen Wislon's report on Investigations which you can find here: http://www.sbe.wa.gov/documents/ReviewofMathematicalSoundness.pdf
In case you're wondering about his opinion on Investigations, this is what he said when testifying before the Frederick County, MD school board:
"I am not really here today to talk to the Board, but to the parents. If your child goes to a school that uses TERC Investigations, you should understand that it means your child's school has abdicated its responsibility to teach your child mathematics. By doing so, the responsibility now rests with the parents. Good luck."
The PWC folks have a new blog up that you can look at to gather data and share stories. The blog is
http://www.pwceducationreform.wordpress.com
Countryside Elementary Insights
During American Education Week I spoke to my son's 3rd grade teacher at Countryside, asking her what she thought about the materials and approach used by Math Investigations.
She commented that the materials and approach were fine, and that the Principal at Countryside Elementary encourages them to use a blended approach incorporating MI when appropriate and using more traditional methods when appropriate.
I like that Math Investigations puts the "math facts" into context and focuses on more conceptual ideas, but ONLY after the math facts have been mastered by the students. To date, I have found mastery of math facts to be underemphasized, requiring addition work outside the classroom.
As a family, we do significant worksheet (see mathfactcafe.com to build your own worksheets) and flashcard work on the basic math facts because I do not think my children are getting enough reinforcement of it during school to achieve the mastery level.