Thread: New Here..anyone do Standards based math in middle school?

I do. Can you be more specific as to what you want regarding materials, stories etc...

I'm using Mathscape, although the county has not said it WON"T go with another company...as long as its one of the ones approved by the NSF. How long have you been using it? Do you use it with all your classes? SOme of our teachers were recommended to try a one class first. I'm using it for all my classes but haven't used all the modules.

We use CMP (Connected Math). Most standards based programs (that I have seen) require the teacher to really know their content in order to see where the investigations/activities will *potentially* lead. The expertise required involves the teacher using the socratic method to help guide students thinking to make the eventual discoveries. One the students have made the discoveries (with the teacher led inquiry based instruction) it is expected that the teacher then have the students apply the newly discovered mathematical principle. Most complaints about the standards based programs is that they don't have enough practice. My response is that it is much easier to create more practice probelms than to create an engaging investigation designed to bring out mathematical concepts. (Although I am getting quite good at that too because of creating differentiated lessons for each investigation). Anyways, I think the key for success is to go through the investigations yourself (with another person) and also to make note of the specific mathematical standard that is expected to be hit. Ask yourself..."At the end of the day what do I want the kids to know, understand and be able to do?" Design focusing questions that help students achieve these three points for the mathematical standard. Encourage multiple strategies and seek for understanding, not simply rote process memorization. Once the objective has been achieved, provide students the chance to practice, and reflect on their learning. Also assess the learning in ever increasing formalization. I begin each class with a warm-up which takes 5 minutes. It is an ungraded quiz which I use to assess whether they students DID achieve the "Know, Understand and Be able to do" from the previous day. I then can use the results immediately to provide extension work, or remediation.

Ok I have said WAY to much. I hope you are still reading... Just remember that the activities/investigations ARE NOT the mathematics, but only a means to discover the mathematics. It takes the teacher to guide the students to guide the students to the understanding, and then to allow for application of that new found knowledge.

russ

PS: I apologize in advance for not proofreading the above post., therefore it may contain numerous spelling/grammatical, or punctuation errors.

Our state had a grant in which they can train us well in Mathscape. They go through each of the 7 modules with us and we actually worked through many of the activites. They also gave us hints with what could be skipped and what was essential. I like the discovery part of it. The kids retain it so much better. I also like how the content is so integrated they are in a constant cycle of review. Its not learn, practice, test, move on. I've really enjoyed what I've done so far this year.

I think the teachers we have that are fighting it like the massive amoutns of practice supplied by the text. (i use the text for extra practice.)But I find Standards based is more work for the teacher in prep and facilitating the lessons.Some of our teachers don't like that.

SKIPPED?!?! I would love to see which topics listed in the state content standards they consider unessential. :evil:

I am all for teaching the state content standards. But what's the point if topics get set aside? That isn't what I consider teaching on grade level.

It isn't really topics skipped, its lessons within the modules that continue an investigation in which the actual investigation itself could be skipped and either picked up in another investigation or taught traditionally much quickerwith the same results. The mathscape tends to have 3-4 lessons in a module and the first 3 are essential and the 4th is more of an extension and therefore COULD technically skipped without missing content. Does that make sense?

Yes, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.