Back to Basics for the "division clueless"

Johns Hopkins University Math Professor discusses elementary math curricula.

Baldacci-era Ed Reforms in a new age

Standards-based grading, RISC, Maine lap-top program, RSU 1 & RSU 2.

Amherst, MA: School board pushes for math changes

The Amherst School Board members want the administration to act quickly to adopt a new elementary math curriculum. Like Everyday Math, Investigations is used throughout Maine. Both programs were pushed by the Maine Math & Science Alliance with federal grant money.

BREAKING NEWS: Supt. Shuttleworth retiring from RSU 1 post

Matt Stone's WeeklyEducation Round-up for Maine

Brown needs to pull California out of Race to the Top

This explains the costs of adopting the Common Core State Standards, etc.

Replace math curricula? Administrators won't answer in writing

Spokane, WA parent blog.

(RISC) Budget woes slow expansion of standards-based education

The Maine DOE won't renew the contract it holds with the Alaska-Based Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC) when it expires in June.

How are our high schools doing?

This is a follow up to the Timesrecord article on AYP. In just 5 years, Brunswick and Morse have widened the proficiency gap by 20+% across every subject. How can we close this gap?

Wake Up Call !! (Long Division)

Missouri parent tells of "insanity" in reform classroom

Another take on the PISA results

If Arne Duncan considers this a wake-up call, where has he been the last 20 years?

The Pros and Cons of Teacher Performance Pay Part 2

Everything but the elementary school math curriculum

Excerpt in response to the NYTimes piece on the PISA results:

Instead, in using terms like "taking responsibility" for ones learning, "critical thinking," "Creativity, " "Integrated curriculum," and "Authentic Problems," these authors, unwittingly or not, are echoing those terms used by supporters of our Reform Math programs to justify the continued use of a uniquely American approach to K12 math that is perpetuating, and exacerbating, or academic decline.

Willingham: What causes performance decline across grades?

Read the comments from teachers on this one. For example:

"I have taught high school algebra for more than 20 years and the kids who do poorly in algebra, do poorly because of lack of basic skills. The basic skill level of students has never been lower."

Does Dr. Willingham have some of it backwards?

RSU2 superintendent to step down in 2011

Here's another example of an administrator leaving the frontlines planning to "provide consulting services" for the districts making the switch to "standards based education". 

Maine: School closings on rise

Next generation workforce: Outperformed in math and science

Craig Barrett, former Intel CEO, on PISA results.

Sputnik for the 21st century

Chester Finn on the PISA results.

PISA test scores

This links to a blog with the latest PISA test results. In math:

Shanghai, China - 600
Singapore - 562
HongKong, China - 555
Finland - 541
USA - 487

Are the results believable?

How Do We Reform Math Education?

This blog contains an NBC video clip on the latest PISA Scores.

Top Test Scores From Shanghai Stun Educators

A wake-up call for the USA?

The Pros and Cons of Teacher Performance Pay

Pine Tree Politics discusses performance pay for teachers in Maine.

Portland (OR) -area schools debate proficiency-based education

Pros and cons are discussed on the article and the posted comments.

Standards-based grading blog

Mr. LePage goes to Washington (and discusses education)

Excerpt:

On education, LePage said he was encouraged by his meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, but remained wary of the revived No Child Left Behind, the education reform law passed by the Bush administration.

"They did say they are going to work very hard at raising the standard of education and that was welcome news because that's what we feel, that in Maine, the education has been dumbed down quite a bit," LePage said. There's some talk about bringing back No Child Left Behind, a new version and that scared me. Because in Maine, I haven't heard any educator tell me that No Child Left Behind was good for a rural state. I think it's more of a large, metro, inner-city type program."

What performance pay for teachers can't accomplish

WPI to help redesign Connected Math curriculum

The Connected Math Projects curriculum is used in many middle schools throughout New England.

Math ‘reform’ fails our kids

Excerpt:

Are we wasting money teaching math to our students? Not as in: We shouldn't be doing it in the first place. Rather, as in: We are spending the money but not teaching them anything.

What's the cause?

In the eyes of those observing it most closely, the cause is the curriculum the district has chosen for teaching them math.

Also, check out what is considered a "passing" grade - 57%

Do We Teach Math the Wrong Way?

Excerpt:

US Math curriculum seems to throw too many topics at children in early grades and does not structure its subject matter so that one topic builds into another.

Too Many High School Seniors Unprepared for College-Level Math and Reading

Nov 29, 2010 Alliance for Excellent Education Public Education Policy & Progress Report

RSU 13 School Board and Super in the hotseat

Jim Skoglund, form Maine State House Rep, rips into consolidation, education fads and Superintendent Lucarelli.

Numbers Wars: School Battles Heat Up Again in the Traditional versus Reform-Math Debate

Scientific American: Weak student scores fuel the fight in mathematics education.