Bringing My Blog Back to Circulation
I'm re-energizing this as it might encourage others to leave comments or just have it as a reminder that something is amiss in the state of math education these days. It's to ensure many that they are not alone, in seeing this abysmal decline. It's a very real phenomenon, affecting thousands of schoolkids, parents, educators, professors and employers.
And it's getting worse.
I recently attended a math conference in Vancouver which honoured Dr. Anna Stokke for her tireless advocacy and work in mathematics both as a parent, and a math professor. It was held at Simon Fraster University where many educators and teacher trainees attended the conference. The title was "Changing the Culture 2017". I was thrilled that someone as dedicated as Dr. Stokke was nominated for this prestigious award, but noted that a very real disconnect exists between those who are in charge of educating our children, and those who see the devastating impact today's math education is having on our kids, i.e. the parents and frontline teachers.
Teachers aren't to blame. Take a look at the convoluted strategies they are being mandated to use. Review the latest BCEd curriculum where standards have been dumbed down. Hear School Adminstrators tell parents "We don't use Drill+Kill in our school". Go to workshops where education consultants push their latest fads and sell their books to unsuspecting teachers. There's no evidence that any of these fads work, and our student performance reflects that. Tutoring rates are up, performance is down, and there's no solution in sight.
I address these issues in my latest article here http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-public-schools-get-failing-grade-on-math . But we need to hear from YOU. I am collecting tutoring stories - do you have one to share? Please leave a comment here, or email me wisemathbc1@gmail.com. Or reach me on twitter @TaraMathBC, or facebook WISE Math BC. We need more voices added to the chorus. There's many of us on your side. But we need your support.
I'll be updating this periodically so be sure to check in. Send this to others who might be interested.
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers,
Tara
And it's getting worse.
I recently attended a math conference in Vancouver which honoured Dr. Anna Stokke for her tireless advocacy and work in mathematics both as a parent, and a math professor. It was held at Simon Fraster University where many educators and teacher trainees attended the conference. The title was "Changing the Culture 2017". I was thrilled that someone as dedicated as Dr. Stokke was nominated for this prestigious award, but noted that a very real disconnect exists between those who are in charge of educating our children, and those who see the devastating impact today's math education is having on our kids, i.e. the parents and frontline teachers.
Teachers aren't to blame. Take a look at the convoluted strategies they are being mandated to use. Review the latest BCEd curriculum where standards have been dumbed down. Hear School Adminstrators tell parents "We don't use Drill+Kill in our school". Go to workshops where education consultants push their latest fads and sell their books to unsuspecting teachers. There's no evidence that any of these fads work, and our student performance reflects that. Tutoring rates are up, performance is down, and there's no solution in sight.
I address these issues in my latest article here http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-public-schools-get-failing-grade-on-math . But we need to hear from YOU. I am collecting tutoring stories - do you have one to share? Please leave a comment here, or email me wisemathbc1@gmail.com. Or reach me on twitter @TaraMathBC, or facebook WISE Math BC. We need more voices added to the chorus. There's many of us on your side. But we need your support.
I'll be updating this periodically so be sure to check in. Send this to others who might be interested.
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers,
Tara
I am a grandmother, and for the life of me, do NOT understand why you parents aren't being proactive. Do you take the time to even talk to the teachers of your children? Do you write letters to your Schoolboard? It really does start with YOU. Only YOU can improve things. Get the Victoria "Grannies" involved if you have to, but your children will be left in the wilderness if they don't have proper instruction in the basics, whether it be math, grammar, history. And for heavens sake, why was cursive instruction removed from the curriculum? My grandchildren aren't able to read any of the letters that I write to them. ARE WE MOVING BACKWARDS? A frustrated older person.
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