tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post953519553778509516..comments2024-03-26T04:19:38.862-07:00Comments on kitchen table math, the sequel: What Philadelphia 5th graders should know how to doCatherine Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03347093496361370174noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-27724073556724528702012-02-10T07:59:11.723-08:002012-02-10T07:59:11.723-08:00The Common Core Standards will not cause Everyday ...The Common Core Standards will not cause Everyday Math or Investigations to go away. They are too vague. One might hope that mastery of basic skills will be enforced on a grade-by-grade basis, but the standards say nothing about that.<br /><br />In going back over the standards, I tried to focus on what they really expect for mastery of basic skills. They never use the word mastery. They use the lesser terms fluency or proficiency. Nobody argues against balance, but few reformists and standards explicitly say what that is.<br /><br />The Common Core Standards are filled with words like understand, solve, recognize, write, interpret, analyze, use, apply, and represent. They don't specify any level of mastery. However, it's clear that they mean something when they use the word "fluent". It's carefully used in the standards. Still, they don't calibrate that or say what a school should do if a student doesn't meet that criterion.<br /><br />So here is their list of "fluent" requirements and their grades. I added in more if they seemed like a requirement. <br /><br /><br />Kindergarten<br /><br />Fluently add and subtract within 5.<br /><br /><br />Second Grade<br /><br />Fluently add and subtract within 20.<br /><br />Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place<br />value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between<br />addition and subtraction.<br /><br /><br />Third Grade<br /><br />Fluently add and subtract within 1000.<br /><br />By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.<br /><br /><br />Fourth Grade<br /><br />Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.<br /><br /><br />Fifth Grade<br /><br />Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.<br /><br /><br />Sixth Grade<br /><br />Fluently divide multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm.<br /><br />Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.<br /><br /><br />That's it.<br /><br />Clearly, they mean something by the term fluency, and clearly, they mean something less for the rest of the words. When you read the document, you might think that the words mean mastery, but you really won't know that until you review the details of the implemented curriculum. <br /><br />So Everyday Math can continue to trust the spiral as long as their content matches the standards document. Life will go on pretty much the same, and the students who have proper grade-level mastery of math will be the ones who have parents ensuring that learning gets done at home.<br /><br />The worst part of all of this is that the skills part of the balance equation is relatively easy to achieve for most kids, while still leaving plenty of time for all of their fuzzy concepts of education.SteveHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03956560674752399562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-78910886431989739432012-02-09T19:31:04.896-08:002012-02-09T19:31:04.896-08:00Ram,
You asked for a book recommendation, but here...Ram,<br />You asked for a book recommendation, but here is an online program recommendation:<br />Headsprout Comprehension. It is specifically for grades 3-5 (for those who can really read at a 3rd grade level).Jennienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-19862951688978630002012-02-09T11:44:09.719-08:002012-02-09T11:44:09.719-08:00Personally, I have kept up with the Common Core St...Personally, I have kept up with the Common Core Standards debate and what the various standards are. I'm interested in it... <br /><br />However, the school district doesn't explicitly state what these standards are any longer. It does not provide a direct link for parents to find these standards written out in an easy to read format. The individual school sites provide nothing about the curriculum they are using, and don't like to discuss it if you call and ask about it.<br /><br />It's like a state secret or something.Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-45195468915256543222012-02-08T18:30:03.793-08:002012-02-08T18:30:03.793-08:00I would hope that the multiplication tables would ...I would hope that the multiplication tables would be covered earlier than 5th (like in 2nd & 3rd as California's standards have) and ditto for long division.Crimson Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254830856234479999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-73172432350148702112012-02-08T18:27:11.292-08:002012-02-08T18:27:11.292-08:00the common core standards for math are here:
http...the common core standards for math are here:<br /><br />http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_Math%20Standards.pdf<br /><br />in math, they are quite good for grades k-8. if you are using singapore's primary mathematics stds edition, you're mostly in line with them, though it's still worth reading to understand the progression.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-79789085989197809062012-02-08T15:25:10.698-08:002012-02-08T15:25:10.698-08:00California's content standards are better. Mo...California's content standards are better. More concrete language:<br /> <br />2.1 Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with decimals; add with negative integers; subtract positive integers from negative integers; and verify the reasonableness of <br />the results. <br /><br />2.2 Demonstrate proficiency with division, including division with positive decimals and long division with multidigit divisors. <br /><br />2.3 Solve simple problems, including ones arising in concrete situations, involving the <br />addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers (like and unlike denominators of 20 or less), and express answers in the simplest form. <br /><br />2.4 Understand the concept of multiplication and division of fractions. <br /><br />2.5 Compute and perform simple multiplication and division of fractions and apply these procedures to solving problems.Kevin Lightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-63653889025079363332012-02-08T14:17:32.375-08:002012-02-08T14:17:32.375-08:00One of the first things I did, when I started home...One of the first things I did, when I started homeschooling my daughter in 4th grade, was download my school district's standards. It was pretty much the same as what was in Katherine's post, if not wordier. <br /><br />Slogging through the district website, I did manage to find information on specific areas for science and social studies that were "recommended" for each grade, and even some useful ideas for labs and projects. Website links were included. <br /><br />All of this was taken down however, once the Common Core Standards (CCS) were adopted in Arizona. In its place are powerpoint presentations on how teachers are to implement the new programs and a brief definition of CCS. That's it.<br /><br />I guess parents don't really need to know what's being taught at their local school any longer, not even in "educationese."Lauranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7691251033406320222.post-52976505896950226382012-02-08T09:35:43.657-08:002012-02-08T09:35:43.657-08:00Great post, Any suggestions on the books to improv...Great post, Any suggestions on the books to improve reading comprehension skills for 3-5 graders ? ThanksRamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415790046097044617noreply@blogger.com