Comments on: What’s the Alternative?

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:10:28 +0000

Anastasia,
The PSU mathematicians sent their letter to the Board in May 2009. Many districts around the country use Investigations – you can find a partial list on the TERC Investigations website. There are other programs like TERC’s that are used in many districts as well, such as Everyday Math.

I think if parents in SCASD could choose which math program their kids would use, very few would choose Investigations. It would be nice if they did it that way…

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:31:59 +0000

Here is another question I am trying to get some answers for. If child was introduced to algorithms in kindergarten, should he be involved in some other math, not investigation? As soon as he already “discover” everything that it is to “discover” in “investigation”.
What do you think on this matter?

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:39:38 +0000

I was also interested in when was letter from mathematicians of Penn State send to Board if ever? Do you know, if any of the school district, besides our, is still using TERC method?
Thank you.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:21:03 +0000

Anastasia,
“Investigations” was selected in 2002-2003 by a committee made up of teachers and district curriculum support staff. The District has confirmed for us the following: Several of the teachers on the committee had only a couple of years’ teaching experience; no peer-reviewed research was evaluated as part of the process; and no outside experts were consulted.

We were told in the spring that this curriculum was chosen not to address any particular shortcoming in math performance, but rather to improve continuity, because teachers in different buildings were doing different things, and this would sometimes cause problems when kids switched schools.

The curriculum support staff are employees of SCASD who answer to the Superintendent, who in turn answers to the SCASD Board of Directors. The directors on the Board are elected to four-year terms by residents of the District.

By: Anastasia

Anastasia — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:27:53 +0000

I am fairly new in this group. Can you, please, enlighten me on when was “investigation” introduced to SCASD. What was the key reasons to initiate it. When, if you know, was “curriculum support board(?)” organized and who are voted those people in?
Thank you.