School Board Voting on New Math Curriculum June 3rd

On June 3rd, 2008, the Edmonds School District Board will be voting on approving the new math curricula adoption for High School and for K through 5th grade.
HIGH SCHOOL:
Tony Byrd, Asst. Superindendent reported back to the SLAC committee (which I am a member of) the decision made by a committee that included himself as well as principals, department chairs, and math teachers. The adoption recommendations are McDougal Littell- Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 (series author Larsen), Pearson/Prentice Hall-Pre-Calculus & Calculus.
These sets of materials were reviewed and voted on by the math teachers and scored higher. Parents also preferred the McDougal Littell series. These materials will be used by all high schools in the district starting Fall 2008.
The McDougal Littell series focuses on teacher directed learning, direct explanations of concepts in the text, clear examples, and skill practice problems. The texts are accessible for parents and students to support the students work from home. On the spectrum, it is considered to be more traditional math than reform math. The committee thought it weak in the application problems or investigations and hopes to help teachers supplement the curriculum.
This decision is definitely good news. I am relieved that my children will not have to be in Integrated Math in high school. There will be some difficulty for Integrated Math 2 students going into next year and taking Algebra 2, because they will not have had sufficient Geometry. The 2 schools affected will try to address the as best they can.
K-5TH GRADE:
Tony Byrd reported to the SLAC committee that the committee that included himself, Elem. principals, teachers, learning support, Math Coordinator, Elem. Education director chose Math Expressions. All K-5th classes in the district will start using these materials in fall 2008.
Math Expressions is a balanced program on the spectrum of traditional math vs. reform math. It includes teacher directed learning and hands on investigations. It uses word problems and stresses "showing your thinking" as well as emphasizing strong basic skills and practice problems. The curriculum focuses on one topic at a time and homework is on the topic studied in class. Parents will be able to know what their children are learning. The algorithms used include traditional ones, although other more "conceptual" ones are also taught.
The original large committee was split on the decision between Expressions and Bridges (a very reform math program). The smaller committee eventually decided on Expressions although they felt Bridges was also a very strong program.
Parent opinion had been very strongly for Expressions. I was pleased with the opportunity to be on the SLAC committee and have many conversations with the people involved with the decision. I tried to convey parental opinion on the weaknesses of reform math. Having children in 4th and 2nd grade I was able to use actual examples of the pitfalls of the current math program that we have. I appreciated that my comments were always listened to carefully and taken into consideration. I believe they realized that I was not alone in my opinions and that many parents had the same point of view.
The elementary schools will be using Math Expressions and I am thrilled that my children, including my four year old and brand new baby, will go to school with this curriculum rather than suffer through the current TERC Investigations weak program. I guess I need to consider no longer supplementing my children's math education with math programs at home. What a concept!
Teacher training with the new materials will begin in August. There is some concern for this years 3rd and 4th graders since Expressions has higher math standards and our current students will not have been taught things during previous years that they should have been. The district will be helping teachers deal with this situation.
I think Edmonds School District has many people dedicated to our students and doing all they can to help them get the best education possible. This process has been a learning experience for me, and if anyone from our district or another school district has questions or needs advice I would be happy to help pass on what I learned.
Next year the SLAC committee will be involved in helping the district in overseeing the math adoption process. The district is determined to make the transition as smooth as possible and give students and teachers the support they need.