tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post2742556944131314896..comments2024-03-26T04:19:38.862-07:00Comments on kitchen table math, the sequel: The root causeCatherine Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-82782790806729814422007-10-01T10:18:00.000-07:002007-10-01T10:18:00.000-07:00"People want a sound-bite."I don't know if they wa..."People want a sound-bite."<BR/><BR/>I don't know if they want a sound-bite. I think that's all you have time for when you run into parents at the grocery store or at soccer games. I've thought a lot about this and I don't have a great answer. <BR/><BR/>I've told parents that my son does really well with Everyday Math, but I use Singapore Math at home. Maybe they think I'm just trying to make him into a super student. It's comforting for parents to hear from the school about all of the kids who do well in math in high school. Forget the fact that many of these kids are math brains or got help at home.<BR/><BR/>I don't think I can change their minds by myself. Maybe, however, they will hear the same thing from other parents and start to think. I always thought that there should be something other than grocery stores and soccer games. Parents should start POs - Parent Organizations (not Pi**ed Off). I find that most parents are VERY interested to hear what's going on. I know I am. It's just that many would consider a parents-only group very divisive.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-25438702335358935792007-10-01T09:05:00.000-07:002007-10-01T09:05:00.000-07:00A parent, convinced by U of Chicago's involvement ...<I>A parent, convinced by U of Chicago's involvement and the flashy presentation that the publisher put together for parents, is having trouble reconciling the marketing with the reality.</I><BR/><BR/>Totally agree on that. <BR/><BR/>I have had this exact experience with various parents over the years. The last few times I just tried to gently mention that they need to make sure their kids know their math facts. I've had reactions ranging from blank faces to condescension (since it is, after all, the great University of Chicago.) <BR/><BR/>Most of the time there is this glazed look on their faces before they change the subject. I've learned to wait until they ask about it later when things start to tank.<BR/><BR/>I've also found that if there is a math literate parent you get your point across better, especially when there is an emerging problem. Then, they're ready to hear what you have to say and what you did about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-19568324985429849082007-10-01T07:59:00.001-07:002007-10-01T07:59:00.001-07:00People want a sound-bite.I need to start a sound b...<I>People want a sound-bite.</I><BR/><BR/>I need to start a sound bite folder. I struggle trying to explain issues succinctly, with just enough of a hook to get people thinking.Texhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015376722906862434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-43811602068410540312007-10-01T07:59:00.000-07:002007-10-01T07:59:00.000-07:00This is probably obvious to everyone else, but I h...<I>This is probably obvious to everyone else, but I had to read a book on AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE to really get it: ktm-2, for me, is practice.</I><BR/><BR/>Oh gosh, reading this comment too quickly made me want to get that book on EFFECTIVE NEUROSIS. lol! Someone should write that book, it would be a bestseller!Texhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015376722906862434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-48709829606507034302007-10-01T07:32:00.000-07:002007-10-01T07:32:00.000-07:00"Oh, that's okay, I think it's beyond where my chi..."Oh, that's okay, I think it's beyond where my child is."<BR/><BR/>I've heard "I just want my kid to be happy." <BR/><BR/>It is easier to believe what you want to see or hear. It is much harder to dig deep...it is painful as well.PaulaVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16739268887887184465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-26640252400462429322007-10-01T06:03:00.000-07:002007-10-01T06:03:00.000-07:00Lately, when people ask me why I don't like Everyd...Lately, when people ask me why I don't like Everyday Math, I've been getting better at summing it up. People want a sound-bite. Anything more than that and they just tune out. If I work "Singapore Math", "TIMSS", or "math & science community" into a well crafted line, I can almost see the cogs turning and once I do, I leave them hanging. I want them to go home and google the heck out the sound-bite and not take my word for it. I want to be provocative and for them to own the knowledge.<BR/><BR/><I>In fact, when you get down to the details, the argument from schools is that Singapore Math is too rigorous for average students.</I><BR/><BR/>A parent, convinced by U of Chicago's involvement and the flashy presentation that the publisher put together for parents, is having trouble reconciling the marketing with the reality. Everyday Math has one of the slickest educational marketing machines ever, by the way. Boy can they sell the sizzle. Her skeptism is in play despite the fact that her neighbor, a biologist, agrees with my take on EM (and reform math in general). <BR/><BR/>So, this weekend I offered to let this parent review Singapore Math textbooks so she could compare them to what her child is learning in EM. She said "Oh, that's okay, I think it's beyond where my child is." She was afraid to see for herself and chose instead to avoid it altogether. It's easier to keep believing what you want to see than being confronted with something so painful it takes your breath away.concernedCTparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755180042426047454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-18106903266624348682007-10-01T05:55:00.000-07:002007-10-01T05:55:00.000-07:00Catherine cheats. She has lots of short posts. But...<I>Catherine cheats. She has lots of short posts. But then again, she would win on word count too.</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah. What Steve said. <BR/><BR/>Caterine's a freak of nature. She has more "reach" than anyone I've ever read. She covers an amazing amount of ground in one day.<BR/><BR/>She's gifted that way, you know.;) Maybe it's a special kind of ADHD. <BR/><BR/>Early on with KTM, I used to picture Catherine sitting at a huge round table with 5 other people firing off comments to her while she thoughtfully answered each one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-55006071656684189442007-10-01T05:41:00.000-07:002007-10-01T05:41:00.000-07:00Catherine cheats. She has lots of short posts. But...<I>Catherine cheats. She has lots of short posts. But then again, she would win on word count too.</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>lollll<BR/><BR/>This is probably obvious to everyone else, but I had to read a book on AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE to really get it: ktm-2, for me, is <I>practice</I>.<BR/><BR/>It's a lot of other things, too: remediation of my kid's education, politics, op-eddery, structured procrastination, and LIFELONG LEARNING!<BR/><BR/>But it is also practice.<BR/><BR/>I learned this year that, apparently, musicians practice "parts" of pieces, not whole pieces. They also practice scales.<BR/><BR/>Writing short posts for ktm-2 is my way of practicing "parts."Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-41643352771314185472007-10-01T04:05:00.000-07:002007-10-01T04:05:00.000-07:00a corps group?where was my brain yesterday?a corps group?<BR/><BR/>where was my brain yesterday?Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-65815768867983717332007-09-30T19:58:00.000-07:002007-09-30T19:58:00.000-07:00"I do think Steve, years ago, had the right idea a..."I do think Steve, years ago, had the right idea about how to get the message across quickly, which is simply to show parents a Singapore Math placement test for the 6th grade."<BR/><BR/>What I've noticed in the last couple of years is that once you get past the superficial arguments, nobody (!) says that Everyday Math or TERC is better than Singapore Math. In fact, when you get down to the details, the argument from schools is that Singapore Math is too rigorous for average students. The big fallacy is that reform math is better. Even the Singapore "culture" argument is a form of low expectation. My son's (ex) private school curriculum head told me that she really liked Singapore Math, but she thinks that EM is best for their students. Low expectations.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-69164764220478751452007-09-30T19:49:00.000-07:002007-09-30T19:49:00.000-07:00" Yet, as of this moment, there are 32 posts on th..." Yet, as of this moment, there are 32 posts on the front page--nearly two thirds of them authored by Catherine"<BR/><BR/>Catherine cheats. She has lots of short posts. But then again, she would win on word count too.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-31322886361562870442007-09-30T11:25:00.000-07:002007-09-30T11:25:00.000-07:00This is exactly what we're living through, in math...This is exactly what we're living through, in math instruction.<BR/><BR/>Exactly.<BR/><BR/>This year probably won't be much better <I>overall</I>Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-69517128225918009442007-09-30T11:24:00.000-07:002007-09-30T11:24:00.000-07:00wow(just finished reading the whole post)tour de f...wow<BR/><BR/>(just finished reading the whole post)<BR/><BR/>tour de force, 2<BR/><BR/>incredibleCatherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-67407204929929084782007-09-30T11:05:00.001-07:002007-09-30T11:05:00.001-07:00Brain researchers who were "know" to the party?NEW...Brain researchers who were "know" to the party?<BR/><BR/>NEW to the party<BR/><BR/>sheeshCatherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-43151078155839715072007-09-30T11:05:00.000-07:002007-09-30T11:05:00.000-07:00Brain researchers who were "know" to the party?NEW...Brain researchers who were "know" to the party?<BR/><BR/>NEW to the party<BR/><BR/>sheeshCatherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-11774655208996685542007-09-30T11:03:00.000-07:002007-09-30T11:03:00.000-07:00One last thing.So far, this year, the tone is radi...One last thing.<BR/><BR/>So far, this year, the tone is radically different. <BR/><BR/>I don't know what conclusions we can draw from this.<BR/><BR/>Tentatively, I conclude that the political work of reforming one's district may have identifiable stages.<BR/><BR/>In my own case, I had two years of pain, not to put too fine a point on it. <BR/><BR/>This year, suddenly, Ed and I are being personally escorted to our child's classroom on Back to School Night.<BR/><BR/>Nothing has changed, but, otoh, a tone change <I>is a change</I>. The message to other parents is that one can work politically to reform one's district and live to tell the tale.<BR/><BR/>Here's the part that I think is important.<BR/><BR/>Those 2 years are now sunk costs. (If I'm not using the term right, pls correct.)<BR/><BR/>I did the time; I don't have to do it again, it appears.<BR/><BR/>I seem, now, to have a role, and to some degree a public identity, as a "school reformer."<BR/><BR/>At the same time, several other parents have emerged as activists (these parents were working just as hard as I've been working, and taking more heat, in some cases. We just hadn't met.)<BR/><BR/>That's another lesson.<BR/><BR/>Where there's smoke, there's fire.<BR/><BR/>If you're unhappy with your district, how likely is it that you are the only parent in the entire community thinking your thoughts?<BR/><BR/>One reason why school districts control the flow of information and the ability to communicate is to keep activist parents from finding each other.<BR/><BR/>So.<BR/><BR/>After two years of "free-lancing," I'm no longer free lancing. <BR/><BR/>A corps group of parents has emerged; more will probably appear. More importantly, a reasonably large group of parents who want improved academics and accountability are making their views known in a less political manner that, in its way, may be more powerful.<BR/><BR/>hmmm....<BR/><BR/>I'm going on too long, and I may not know what I'm talking about...though this is the way things feel to me <I>and to others</I>.<BR/><BR/>So we'll see.<BR/><BR/>Realistically, I expect to lose every battle this year, and that will be fine.<BR/><BR/>The public image of a district choosing to do battle with educated parents, instead of working with us to improve the schools, isn't a winning position for the district.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-61277972275723929752007-09-30T10:51:00.000-07:002007-09-30T10:51:00.000-07:00I do think Steve, years ago, had the right idea ab...I do think Steve, years ago, had the right idea about how to get the message across quickly, which is simply to show parents a Singapore Math placement test for the 6th grade.<BR/><BR/>I've done this more than once; it leaves a lasting impression.<BR/><BR/>Parents pick up on these things pretty quickly -- especially when you add an element of "precision teaching" or "efficient learning," i.e. when you make clear you aren't promoting even more school drudgery than the kids are already dealing with.<BR/><BR/>The big question is how to get change out of school districts.<BR/><BR/>I fear that the only way to induce change in a school district, in many cases, is to de-legitimize the administration first.<BR/><BR/>If an administration won't work with parents, and ours, in the recent past, refused absolutely, then that's the way you have to go.<BR/><BR/>You have to convince to the broader community that the administration isn't doing its job.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-36620738728039617262007-09-30T10:47:00.000-07:002007-09-30T10:47:00.000-07:00Wasn’t there a recent post about plagiarism? But, ...<I>Wasn’t there a recent post about plagiarism? But, it’s not plagiarism if it’s just an email to the board, right?</I><BR/><BR/>Tex raises an important point.<BR/><BR/>A few years back, Ed and I staged an intervention at the NIH, when we discovered that my 7 years of full-time work on the board of NAAR (National Alliance for Autism Research) had resulted in the NIH systematically defunding behavioral researchers and "transferring" their money to brain researchers.<BR/><BR/>(This is not the way the NIH would see it, obviously. But in fact, this is what happened. All of the brilliant behavioral researchers, with lifetimes of important work, were de-funded. Brain researchers who were know to the party and had nothing to show were funded. EOS.)<BR/><BR/>Ed and I staged an intervention by writing a letter protesting this state of affairs, and then sending it out over the FEAT newsletter network, telling parents what had happened, and telling them that our letter was their letter.<BR/><BR/>We told everyone to cut and paste the entire letter if they wanted, to use parts of it if they wanted, to edit it with their own details if they wanted...we covered the gamut.<BR/><BR/>We said, "Here's the letter; it's yours."<BR/><BR/>The NIH was flooded with a zillion letters and emails.<BR/><BR/>We were told later, by a source we trust, that shortly after this onslaught began, people at the NIH were "running through the halls."<BR/><BR/>Of course, we were all pretty tickled by that image.<BR/><BR/>Exactly why would people at the NIH be running through the halls, and where exactly would they be running to?<BR/><BR/>Were they trying to find a behavioral proposal that had been funded somewhere in the stacks?<BR/><BR/>Point is: I consider everything I've written to be usable by everyone else, without attribution.<BR/><BR/>I need to get a post up front about this (and have been meaning to).<BR/><BR/>I especially consider everything I've written at the Irvington Parents Forum to be "shareware.<BR/><BR/>If anything there will work in another situation, it's yours.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-64057855612384929232007-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:002007-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00A couple of things....First of all, preaching to t...A couple of things....<BR/><BR/>First of all, preaching to the choir is important. Believe it or not, this is something I've thought about pretty often, sometimes in terms of journalism & its role.<BR/><BR/>The fact is, the choir needs preaching to. We need to be reminded of what we know; we need content experts to refresh our memories. (For this reason, I've re-read Barry's A-Maze-Ing Math article several times, and I need to re-read the Singapore Math article. I've also re-read Willingham's articles.)<BR/><BR/>The second issue, which is getting other parents up to speed **fast**, is extremely important...and the way to do this best continues to elude me.<BR/><BR/>I have a "Greatest Hits" category that is a start on this, but no one knows what it is or where it is, etc.<BR/><BR/>At a minimum, it means we need to have a category of "Comment Keepers" (and, actually, that's not a bad name - what do you think?)<BR/><BR/>One other thing: I am now faced with this issue in my own political life here in my own district. I think that's all I'll say specifically, other than to add that my challenge is to "boil it all down," to "find the basic principle" (a Temple Grandin line), and to communicate that basic principle to people who want to know what it is and don't have 3 years of their lives to spend thinking about these things.<BR/><BR/><BR/><I>To some extent, I am preaching to the choir (except for recent long threads at MathNotations). After studying this for 7 years my goal is to get other parents up to speed faster</I>Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-75390883709690187212007-09-30T06:11:00.000-07:002007-09-30T06:11:00.000-07:00Lol, Tex! We'll never tell.I have my own Steve fo...Lol, Tex! We'll never tell.<BR/><BR/>I have my own Steve folder. I have a Doug folder, too. I could have many folders from everyone around here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-48062501384982752432007-09-30T06:05:00.000-07:002007-09-30T06:05:00.000-07:00I will be at a distinct rhetorical disadvantage an...<I>I will be at a distinct rhetorical disadvantage and, well, it is all about me.</I><BR/><BR/>Me too! You don’t want to know how many times I’ve used the cut & paste feature on Steve’s comments.<BR/><BR/>Wasn’t there a recent post about plagiarism? But, it’s not plagiarism if it’s just an email to the board, right?Texhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015376722906862434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-76699390783180141032007-09-29T23:54:00.000-07:002007-09-29T23:54:00.000-07:00Why do I need a blog if I have KTM? Catherine does...<I>Why do I need a blog if I have KTM? Catherine does all of the work and I can chime in (or not) whenever I want.</I><BR/><BR/>Chiming in whenever (or not) you want is not a position.<BR/><BR/>And, dude, you HAVE a position. Why keep it bottled up in "reaction"? How's about ACTION?<BR/><BR/>And, well, I've only been following this site for two years, but I can tell you, given my expert insight into the written personality, that there is some angst--some SERIOUS angst--in this message:<BR/><BR/><I>Steve needs to write MANY, MANY POSTS FOR KTM!!!!<BR/><BR/>Ken, too.<BR/><BR/>AND THE REST OF YOU!</I><BR/><BR/>There are 50+ "contributors" to this site. Yet, as of this moment, there are 32 posts on the front page--nearly two thirds of them authored by Catherine (including some while she was on vacation).<BR/><BR/>The other third belong to a total of about 7 people (some of which were cross-posted).<BR/><BR/>C'mon, Steve!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16517742269292732960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-41309996061125956642007-09-29T19:52:00.000-07:002007-09-29T19:52:00.000-07:00KTM is kinda like Grand Central. I can get just a...KTM is kinda like Grand Central. I can get just about anywhere that matters right from here. That said, Steve's stuff needs to be upfront and searchable.concernedCTparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09755180042426047454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-86728046894754663632007-09-29T19:41:00.000-07:002007-09-29T19:41:00.000-07:00Why do I need a blog if I have KTM? Catherine does...Why do I need a blog if I have KTM? Catherine does all of the work and I can chime in (or not) whenever I want.<BR/><BR/>To some extent, I am preaching to the choir (except for recent long threads at MathNotations). After studying this for 7 years my goal is to get other parents up to speed faster.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-62498140490661353452007-09-29T17:17:00.000-07:002007-09-29T17:17:00.000-07:00This brings up an important issue, though, which i...This brings up an important issue, though, which is that we've got far too many Memorable Comments buried in Comments, which can't be searched.<BR/><BR/>Hey--it strikes me that anyone can put a good Comment up front.<BR/><BR/>Maybe everyone should just start doing so.<BR/><BR/>I'm just not going to get to my list, and I probably miss comments from time to time (not many, but I'm sure there are some....)Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.com