Parents welcome to add two cents in debate over math curriculum

GAYLE MILLER and MARC LEINBERGER

May 02, 2008 at 1:04PM AKST

For The Tundra Drums

The Lower Kuskokwim School District is reviewing its mathematics curriculum with the intent of making recommendations to the school board in June.

The review began in January and will continue until board approval of a full plan for teaching mathematics.

The full plan will include revision of the LKSD phase curriculum guide and adoption of supporting resources, as well as teacher training and implementation plans with accountability measures.

The Math Committee is seeking public input regarding proposed changes to the curriculum and resources that have been selected by the committee to support those changes. "Everyday Math" and supplements "Singapore Math Problem Solving", "Mountain Math" and "Mad Minute for Basic Facts" are available for public examination and comment in the lower lobby of the LKSD district office.

Materials can also be sent to remote sites for review upon request. The next public meeting for discussion of the math program will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 in the LKSD Board room. The meeting will also be available for remote viewing by video teleconference.

The LKSD math curriculum has been revised to directly match the grade-level expectations published by the state of Alaska. The annual standards-based assessments are also based on expectations. The new curriculum will lead teaching and learning in the district to match the math goals of the state and the nation.

It is important for stakeholders to know that the basis for instruction in LKSD is the adopted curriculum, not the resources purchased to support the curriculum. The LKSD curriculum is a balanced approach recommended by the National Mathematics Advisory Panel.

Recently there has been intense debate in the United States between those who advocate simple math procedures against those who support a conceptual approach to teaching.

"Debates regarding the relative importance of these aspects of mathematical knowledge are misguided," a panel’s final report says. "These capabilities are mutually supportive, each facilitating the learning of the other."

Both basic facts and conceptual understanding are important goals for student mastery in LKSD.

The proposed LKSD curriculum supports the conceptual approaches and the teaching and mastery of basic facts. Resource materials the committee will recommend for conceptual development include "Everyday Math" and Singapore eight-step problem solving. Resources for basic math fact mastery include "Mountain Math" cumulative basic skills review and "Mad Minute" for basic fact mastery.

All interested persons are welcome to drop by the district office to review materials and to attend the public math meeting on the evening of April 28. We ask that you make written comments to the LKSD school board regarding the curriculum and the suggested resources. Forms are available on the review table.

Gayle Miller is curriculum director and Marc Leinberger is a math educational specialist at the Lower Kuskokwim School District.