Grace62 wrote:
I can understand your frustration graylocks.
What are the key components of this new approach at the high school level?
it's an integrated approach. Math is year I, II, III, and IV with each year having modules of Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, and Probability. it's also supposed to be a 'discovery' approach and students are expected to learn from each other. the problems are numerous but the major ones being the foundation for many of the concepts are being taught out of sequence so it is not making sense to the students. then the teachers fall back on 'just do this trick' and leaves the students with no understanding of the why. very little is sticking because the curriculum is a mile wide and half an inch deep. the group learning thing is also completely washing out. it's a new approach for teachers and students. last year for Math II the teachers were told
here's your new curriculum. oh, by the way, we're out of money to train you how to teach it.
i'm not exactly sure what Math III covers because the state has not released a guide for the students or parents. one parent has described it as come ride this airplane while we're still building it. the plane will crash when this class bombs the SAT in large numbers next year. the State will blame the students and the teachers and take no responsibility for the mess they have created.
as i said, i think an integrated, discovery approach can work but it needed to have been implemented in 1st grade and introduced year by year rather than simply thrust upon students brought up on a more conventional approach.
one other issue that may be lurking: some parents that have checked with the admissions department of schools they want their child to consider have been told those schools have reservations as to whether Math I, II, III, and IV will cut the mustard for schools requiring conventional course designations like Algebra I, Algebra II, Calculus, etc. the Georgia Department says they cleared this with schools but these parents called the schools the State
said they cleared this program with.