MATHEMATICS

Minggu, 15 Juli 2012

VAN BUREN: District OKs new K-6 math program 16-07-2012


A common mathematics curriculum for grades K-6 will be in place for the new school year in September, as a result of Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education approval and allocation of $200,000 toward purchase of the Everyday Mathematics series of instructional textbooks and tools.

Trustee Scott Russell, who recused himself from the board’s vote because he is an employee of McGraw Hill, the book’s publisher, applauded the introduction of a common math curriculum through the sixth grade.

Director of Instruction Diane Kullis said that the Everyday Math program is used in almost all school districts in Wayne and Oakland Counties, and is supported by the state of Michigan as part of its Common Core State Standards requirements for all schools.

Kullis emphasized that the program acknowledges there may be several ways to solve a math problem, and tolerates different methods, provided the student can show the work leading to the solution.
“It lets children solve problems many different ways,” she said. She encouraged parents to share with their children how they solved the problem when they were in school.

To help make the decision, teachers were introduced to three alternative math education programs and completed an online survey of their views, which were used in conjunction with discussions with consultants and Superintendent Michael Van Tassel to select the Everyday Math series.

According to a letter from Kullis to the school board, “Moving forward with Everyday Math as the K-6 mathematics curriculum should provide students with the mathematical ability to move into the Carnegie Curriculum and the higher mathematics courses required at the high school level. It should successfully prepare the students to exit the high school program with career readiness skills in mathematics.”

The Carnegie Curriculum is a math curriculum for seventh- and eighth-graders. The board approved the new program in March at a cost of $445,000, for implementation in the new school year.

In other business, administrators, teachers, parents and students associated with the completion of the first year of the Belleville New Tech program were on hand to summarize the outcomes and to share plans for next year, when the program will be available not only to sophomores but also to incoming freshmen.

The purpose of the new program, which included 124 freshman students this year, is to better prepare the students for the daily working world using team orientations, integrated courses featuring disciplines like biology and literature, and real-world problem-solving challenges
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