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Schools streamline how may is taught; Same textbooks, same lessons, at the same time


Ohanian Comment: They call it 'streamlining'; I call it widget-making.

By Jessica Blanchard

When Seattle elementary-schoolers open their math textbooks this fall, they'll all be on the same page -- literally.

In an attempt to boost stagnant test scores, elementary teachers will start using the same math textbooks and materials and covering lessons at the same time as their colleagues at other Seattle elementary schools, the School Board decided Wednesday.

"It's clear to me that the math adoption is long overdue, and Seattle desperately needs a consistent and balanced approach," board member Brita Butler-Wall said.

Lessons will now be taught using the conceptual "Everyday Math" books, which help students discover algorithms on their own and explore multiple ways to solve problems, and the more traditional "Singapore Math" books, which help hone students' basic computation skills through repetition and problem solving. Teachers will follow the district's guidelines for the order the lessons would be taught.

The move is the latest step toward the district's goal of streamlining and standardizing the math curriculum. The district has two formally adopted math programs, but over the years, teachers have had the flexibility to create their own math lessons, culling bits from various other math programs they liked.

That piecemeal approach has worked well for some schools, but not all. And the inconsistency has made it difficult for students transferring from one school to another.

Starting this fall, the math program the board adopted will be used at nearly all the district's elementary schools, except the few that can show significant progress using another math program. They will be allowed waivers to continue using their current curriculum.

The board's decision was not without controversy.

There has been considerable debate nationwide in recent years over how best to teach math. Parents and teachers seem to fall into one of two camps -- those who favor more a conceptual, hands-on approach, and those who advocate for a traditional skills-based program.

The combination of "Everyday Math" and "Singapore Math" was intended to be a compromise, to offer a program that has elements of both approaches.

Several of the teachers, principals and parents who spoke at the public-comment session before the board's vote voiced support for the proposed adoption, including Sharon Rodgers, president of the Seattle Council PTSA.

"The kids have waited for long enough for some kind of consistency in math," she said.

But most speakers urged board members to reject the standardized curriculum.

Parent M.J. McDermott asked the board to hold off on making a decision until the state's math standards are revised next year.

"If Seattle Public Schools adopts 'Everyday Math,' we will be right back here in a couple years, looking to find a new solution," she said. "It will be money wasted."

— Jessica Blanchard
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
2007-05-31
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/317916_math31.html?source=mypi

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