tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post3927320238488285680..comments2024-03-26T04:19:38.862-07:00Comments on kitchen table math, the sequel: revisionCatherine Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-19337679512635645382007-10-10T19:35:00.000-07:002007-10-10T19:35:00.000-07:00Not yet, but believe me, I will.Ready for lift-off...Not yet, but believe me, I will.<BR/><BR/>Ready for lift-off.<BR/><BR/>And <I>thank you</I>.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-6165268239926731852007-10-10T11:03:00.000-07:002007-10-10T11:03:00.000-07:00In case it wasn't apparent, supporting the alterna...In case it wasn't apparent, supporting the alternate narrative was a major reason for writing "Learning in the Castle of Fear". (Did you ever post that on your other list, Catherine?)Doug Sundsethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01848091504066560951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-20005857927345533632007-10-10T08:03:00.000-07:002007-10-10T08:03:00.000-07:00The goal of a "competing narrative" should be choi...<I>The goal of a "competing narrative" should be choice, not balance. </I><BR/><BR/>The goal of a competing narrative as I've been pursuing it is twofold:<BR/><BR/>a) delegitimize education school dominance over K-12 policy and practice<BR/><BR/>b) make known the fact that "accountable" teaching practices exist <BR/><BR/>I talk about choice a great deal, but I do so tactically more than strategically, assuming I know what those terms mean....<BR/><BR/>I talk about choice to head off the tyrrany of the (presumed) majority.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-1772977826563649062007-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:002007-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:00Our public schools have more separation by ability...<I>Our public schools have more separation by ability in 7th and 8th grades, but the important K-6 years are untouchable. </I><BR/><BR/><B>Separation by ability is being used, in my town and elsewhere, to lower achievement.</B><BR/><BR/>This is a critically important point to grasp.<BR/><BR/>There is NO solution that will work when "implemented" by most of our educators.<BR/><BR/>None.<BR/><BR/>When I say "lower achievement," I mean lower the achievement of <I>everyone</I>.<BR/><BR/><B>My district uses separation by ability to lower the achievement of the most academically inclined kids.</B><BR/><BR/>Chris did worse on his state math test last year than some of the kids in Phase 3. This is common.<BR/><BR/>The "answer" to our public schools is the political process, EOS.<BR/><BR/>That won't work, either (probably), but it's the only hope.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-75483079034683746572007-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:002007-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:00Well, I've learned that it's not simply a matter o...<I>Well, I've learned that it's not simply a matter of convincing them that Singapore Math is better. In spite of their talk of understanding and constructivism, this isn't about "better", it's about "different". They've redefined math and their talk of things like "Higher-Order Thinking is just a cover.</I><BR/><BR/>Right!<BR/><BR/>I don't try to change the views of the administration.<BR/><BR/>It's not about persuading the administration that Singapore Math is better. They're not going to be persuaded.<BR/><BR/>It's about bringing political pressure to bear.<BR/><BR/>There really is no "debate" or "argument" here.<BR/><BR/>This is politics, pure and simple.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-71986399550440369612007-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:002007-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:00The only way we'll get choice here, within the sch...The only way we'll get choice here, within the school district, is to change the community's thinking.<BR/><BR/>I <I>think</I> that is happening.<BR/><BR/>Parents -- and this was me 3 years ago -- just don't have a way to think about what schools are doing.<BR/><BR/>If you haven't spent 3 years immersed in these things, you think "Why isn't my school better?" or "Why is my reasonably intelligent child struggling?" or "Why are all the black students in Phase 1?"<BR/><BR/>But that's as far as you get until you know more about the K-12 system.<BR/><BR/>At least it was as far as I got.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-15058433511219761412007-10-10T07:42:00.000-07:002007-10-10T07:42:00.000-07:00"A lot of you probably remember Steve H, way back ..."A lot of you probably remember Steve H, way back in the beginning when we were all trying to figure out how to change educator's minds, saying, 'Just put Singapore Math side by side with U.S. math.'"<BR/><BR/>Well, I've learned that it's not simply a matter of convincing them that Singapore Math is better. In spite of their talk of understanding and constructivism, this isn't about "better", it's about "different". They've redefined math and their talk of things like "Higher-Order Thinking is just a cover.<BR/><BR/>This really hit home when I had long discussions with the curriculum head at my son's (old) private school last year. In spite of the fact that all of the kids were quite capable, and in spite of the fact that she liked Singapore Math, she thought that Everyday Math was more appropriate for the diverse needs of the students. (That's an argument you can't fight.) There was never an argument over "better".<BR/><BR/>At best, our discussion revolved around what could be done with kids who are ready and willing for more. Their answer had to do with resources, not "better". The school was small and besides, their kids do very well when they get to all of the fancy private high schools. Uncalibrated. Unarguable. When I raised the idea of "in spite of", it was not taken seriously.<BR/><BR/>Things are changing, but it comes very slowly and on their terms. Our public schools have more separation by ability in 7th and 8th grades, but the important K-6 years are untouchable. They cannot see that better curricula in the early grades would reduce the need for that separation. They are fixing the symptom, not the problem.<BR/><BR/>The goal of a "competing narrative" should be choice, not balance. I can't get too excited about flexibility and responsiveness when I shouldn't be in that position in the first place. I don't want to negotiate with them to get a better product. I want to go somewhere else, or at least, have choice.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-15248520975943668032007-10-10T06:16:00.000-07:002007-10-10T06:16:00.000-07:00Seriously, though, I (tentatively) believe that on...Seriously, though, I (tentatively) believe that one of the things happening here is that we now have a "competing narrative."<BR/><BR/>A lot of you probably remember Steve H, way back in the beginning when we were all trying to figure out how to change educator's minds, saying, "Just put Singapore Math side by side with U.S. math."<BR/><BR/>I've done that, repeatedly.<BR/><BR/>I also started the Yahoo list, and wrote my Yahoo op eds, many of which were circulated around the district.<BR/><BR/>Other parents wrote their own op-eds; there was a small band of parents attending every board meeting & pressing these issues (I didn't even know about these folks!); there were two other parents hammering the administration about the math situation; the 5th grade parents came close to rioting twice, during Trailblazers meetings.<BR/><BR/>What does all of that amount to?<BR/><BR/>It amounts to something important, I think: it amounts to a change in the climate in which our educators must work.<BR/><BR/>Prior to this, at least in my experience (there's no way I can perceive a "big picture"), the tone of the district was boosterism. High-performing schools, schools of excellence!<BR/><BR/>All emails from the school board read like company newsletters and in fact were company newsletters. They still read this way, because the same person is writing them. However, he has been voted out of the Board presidency, which undercuts his legitimacy.<BR/><BR/>All news was good news.<BR/><BR/>All communication was strictly managed; "public forums" were held and "public comment" was taken, but the public had to raise its hand, stand, and state its name for the record before being allowed to speak.<BR/><BR/>Joe public never cut too imposing a figure in these venues.<BR/><BR/>The place where you can see the real change is Board meetings. Huge change, massive.<BR/><BR/>There is real, open discussion happening; respect is shown; people speak and listen to each other speak.<BR/><BR/>The public can sit in on district committee meetings.<BR/><BR/>There are other things happening, too.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-13140200294204824552007-10-10T04:37:00.001-07:002007-10-10T04:37:00.001-07:00otoh, I AM learning not to take the bait.otoh, I AM learning not to take the bait.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-12848910683997122502007-10-10T04:37:00.000-07:002007-10-10T04:37:00.000-07:00Of course, I would also like him not to spend the ...Of course, I would also like him not to spend the remainder of the school year telling me what a big mistake it was to have done this.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-57900687461622936892007-10-10T04:36:00.000-07:002007-10-10T04:36:00.000-07:00My friend, who has stuck it out all this time, and...My friend, who has stuck it out all this time, and who finally went ahead and kept her son in this math track for high school, reported yesterday that her son flunked his first test.<BR/><BR/>She emailed the teacher a week ago; hasn't heard back.<BR/><BR/>Looking forward to high school!<BR/><BR/>Ed said, yesterday, We're getting him out of this track; we're going to end the pain.<BR/><BR/>hah!<BR/><BR/>He'll never do it.Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-19057174098814114312007-10-10T04:34:00.000-07:002007-10-10T04:34:00.000-07:00Thanks, Tracy.Unfortunately, that was the high poi...Thanks, Tracy.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, that was the high point of the year seeing as how C. scored a D- on his first test.<BR/><BR/>Yesterday he said, "Well I probably have a C in the class because of homework."<BR/><BR/>The homework isn't collected or corrected; the teacher never lays eyes on it. He sends the smartest girl in the class around to write down whether the kids have it.<BR/><BR/>There are a couple boys who cheat, so they'll pick up a neighbor's homework and show her that, and she writes it down.<BR/><BR/>(Don't know whether she knows the boys are doing that. If I were in her position, I might or might not know, but if I did know, I wouldn't tell.)Catherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-39147943481048587152007-10-10T03:30:00.000-07:002007-10-10T03:30:00.000-07:00KarenA,I was thinking the same thing about the rec...KarenA,<BR/><BR/>I was thinking the same thing about the record-breaking comments response.PaulaVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16739268887887184465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-16624594905220621332007-10-10T02:06:00.000-07:002007-10-10T02:06:00.000-07:00Congratulations on your achievements with phase 4....Congratulations on your achievements with phase 4. Well done!Tracy Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08999246551652981965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-81707721943841784972007-10-09T19:27:00.000-07:002007-10-09T19:27:00.000-07:00Well, unlike Anonymous from yesterday, Tara didn't...Well, unlike Anonymous from yesterday, Tara didn't manage to evoke record-breaking Comments response.Karen Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06132085963945807124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-50102964038215884732007-10-09T19:05:00.000-07:002007-10-09T19:05:00.000-07:00stop picking on tara, you guysstop picking on tara, you guysCatherine Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-34625700245088297612007-10-09T13:34:00.000-07:002007-10-09T13:34:00.000-07:00"Yeah, well, she may not have grammar down, but sh..."Yeah, well, she may not have grammar down, but she's rolling in dough!"<BR/><BR/>Hmmm . . . if she's rolling in dough, perhaps she should change her name to Cookie. <BR/><BR/>Sorry, my warped sense of humor got the best of me.Karen Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06132085963945807124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-86489935613905432482007-10-09T13:22:00.000-07:002007-10-09T13:22:00.000-07:00I wonder if she's still Knick's girl?I wonder if she's still Knick's girl?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-36368323744390586552007-10-09T13:18:00.000-07:002007-10-09T13:18:00.000-07:00Yeah, well, she may not have grammar down, but she...Yeah, well, she may not have grammar down, but she's rolling in dough!Barry Garelickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01281266848110087415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-32725401200970125812007-10-09T10:48:00.000-07:002007-10-09T10:48:00.000-07:00Well, Tara is at least persistent. I'm thinking T...Well, Tara is at least persistent. I'm thinking Tara could use a few lessons in basic grammar . . .Karen Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06132085963945807124noreply@blogger.com