March 25, 2005

Everyday math blasted

This weeks Acorn has an article titled CVUSD math curriculum criticized that delves into Everyday Mathematics.

I don't know, one way or another whether it works or not.

I do feel that math is fuzzy, at least in terms of human perception. I've tried to explain approximation to both of our older kids and neither of them ever got it (such a pity). There are times when I feel like we need to yank the damned calculators out of their hands and make 'em do a year with slide rules just so the picture becomes a bit more clear. Perhaps it's just me, but that darned device gave me a gut feel for numbers, logs and any number of mathematical relationships that never become apparent with a chip. Maybe I spent too much time looking at the things, but the slide rule seemed to be a visual representation of mathematics; once you groked why it looked the way it did, everything else falls into place.

If you read this far and are sniggering because of the title, remind me of days long gone... it could have been worse. Alternative titles included:

  • New math blasted again
  • Everyday math blasted (plus! enhanced!)
  • and so on
Posted by Dave at March 25, 2005 09:28 PM
Trackback URL: http://homie.dijas.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/451
Comments

Slide rules are for wimps. Get medieval on them and bring out the abacus'

BTW, you'll have to comment on this...http://mambo.foxblocker.com/

Posted by: Kayabowl on March 25, 2005 11:14 PM commLink

Mr. Bowl,

Not having any experience with an abacus, I can't really comment upon it's usefulness as a math tool. A slide rule OTOH was invaluable in helping me learn higher order mathematical concepts. Did you ever use an abacus?

As for the rest of your missive, hmph! I'll respond to your bait regarding FoxBlocker elsewhere.

Posted by: Dave Ely on March 27, 2005 07:07 PM commLink

Thank you for helping to spread the word about Everyday Math. If parents want to research what we found to be most distressing regarding this curriculum they can access a wealth of information from the Save Our Children from Mediocre Math web site at http://socmm.home.att.net. Please pass the word to other parents, thank you for your support.

Jo Anne Cobasko

Posted by: Save Our Children from Mediocre Math on March 28, 2005 07:02 PM commLink

Hey Dave,
Too funny you should mention such right now. I should talk to you about my new gig.

-Phil

Posted by: Phil on April 3, 2005 09:34 PM commLink

If anyone out there has actual statisics about the decline of learning with everyday math, please send it to me. No matter how many articles I find against everyday math and connected math, our school board won't listen. They want actually figures and years children are in the program. Please help! My child's math education has suffered enough! This was introduced to him in 4th grade not kindegarten, and I can't find where it has helped one bit, except that he hasn't had enough practice on multiplication and division.
thanks for any help you can give me

Posted by: janet decker on April 29, 2005 05:57 AM commLink

I teach an emotional support class; most of the students also have a learning disability. Everyday Mathematics is absolutely the WORST program I have ever seen. It jumps around; there is no foundation of basic math concepts. I have to search through the myriad of materials to find practice problems in whatever objective I am trying to teach. If I had the money, I would take out a full-page ad in every educational journal I could to say, "EVERYDAY MATHEMATICS IS A NIGHTMARE!"

Posted by: newleaf on June 1, 2005 07:47 AM commLink

Janet,

Check out this post -- I helped my daughter!

http://www.parentpundit.com/2005/01/if_your_school_.html

And this post:
http://www.parentpundit.com/2005/05/more_on_everyda.html

Good luck!

Posted by: Katherine Prouty on June 6, 2005 08:19 AM commLink