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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 12:26:21 AM   
KenDckey


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quote:

ORIGINAL: ForgetMeKnots

Let me just add that I had to go to a meeting where one of the Common Core developers was presenting. Basically what was said is that college and university professors were tired of getting students that didn't have the ability to write or read on level (welcome to our world), so they developed CC to be implemented in every state so that children were held to higher standards all across the nation.



In the Mid 1980s I wrote a Regulation for the Army. I got into trouble. Not because of the content of the regulation but because the powers told me that it was written at a 14th grade level and that the average college graduate could read at the 9th grade level.

That is terrible. I don't think common core will fix it, but I do agree that something needed to be done. BTW I only have a 12th grade education and was an average student. The only excellerated class I took was Chemistry and that is because the teacher in regular chem decided I shouldn't be doing the math in my head to come up with correct answers. I was on probation in regular chem because I almost failed biology (a subject I still hate even tho I was required to learn way to much for my national certification in safety. ugh

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 7:04:13 AM   
MercTech


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ORIGINAL: Tkman117

So tell me when was the last time you took an exam of 150 questions where you needed a 50% average to keep your job or get over 80% to get a raise?

Just because you can't concievably think of an alternative does not mean there isn't one. Do you think those engineers threw their hands up in the air and said "well, Apollo 13 is fucked." Humans are intelligent creatures, and by limiting your opinion to "well it's the only concievable solution" speaks volumes about yorself and your political ideology.


January 27th 2015... You had to get above 80% to keep the job. You could retest if you got above 60% but below that you were fired.

Yes, periodic re-qualification written testing is the norm in many technical fields.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 7:10:45 AM   
MercTech


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Status: offline 		The common core test bank is badly written. But, the concept of academic standards so that a High School diploma from Wherever, Oklahoma is equivalent to one from Outback, Georgia is a valid goal.

So far, only the SATs and ACTs act as a common comparison between school districts and those only test those with aspirations for further education.

I remember the attempt at Academic Standards Testing back in the late 1970s. That died on the vine when it was shown that 60% of the teachers could not pass standard testing in the subjects they were hired to teach.

When you don't understand the subject it is easy to fall back on teaching the test bank.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:06:20 AM   
KenDckey


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Status: offline 		Merc I think that most people would agree that the goal of educating our children with the best possible education available. And that all children should be well educated.

The issue as I see it is the method of getting to the goal. I personally common core isn't it. It, in my opinion, holds back achievers and pushes forward under achievers. Then it says they all got the same benefit. If an 8 yr old could become an MD (and I am speaking purely hypothetically because I am not so sure that is possible) then don't make the 8 yr old wait until s/he becomes 20 something to get there. At the same time, if a 10 yr old can't comprehend the education, hold him/her back until they achieve the necessary level of comprehension.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:19:38 AM   
GoddessManko


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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

Merc I think that most people would agree that the goal of educating our children with the best possible education available. And that all children should be well educated.

The issue as I see it is the method of getting to the goal. I personally common core isn't it. It, in my opinion, holds back achievers and pushes forward under achievers. Then it says they all got the same benefit. If an 8 yr old could become an MD (and I am speaking purely hypothetically because I am not so sure that is possible) then don't make the 8 yr old wait until s/he becomes 20 something to get there. At the same time, if a 10 yr old can't comprehend the education, hold him/her back until they achieve the necessary level of comprehension.


That's the problem with labels on CHILDREN. You adults tend to force your labels down their throats without some measure of understanding. There is no such thing as an underachieving child. That is total bullshit. There is only a child who is not being engaged the right way or learns differently than others but labeling them as "underachievers" washes society's hands of them so everyone can sleep better at night. I used to tutor kids and children NATURALLY have a curiosity and wonder for learning otherwise potty training would be impossible.
I understand your premise and to some degree I am with you but let's not create a mental caste system where some children are categorically better than others. My brother is an artist. He created polar bears during a winter solstice with a needle and charcoal. I can hardly draw stick figures. But I had to tutor him in spelling and math. He is a genius in his own way but it's where his strengths are not being nurtured because schools tell him he has to be on par with me as far as memorization and analytical skills. Where as his creativity is stifled. Some children might have an inclination for robotics, others for philosophy, others for medicine, others for record keeping, others for information sharing etc etc.
Some children yes, are genetically smarter, like my youngest nephew but if they lack social skills are labelled as autistic while my youngest nephew has no problem learning through technology. In fact it's ALL he ever does when he's at home. He just learns differently but the kid is a bonafide genius. However pen and paper he is less inclined to enjoy and bam! label.
Also he has no issue giving eye contact, engaging his brothers and children in our family and showing them whatever he's working on and also adults. But he simply dislikes the company of other children and finds them noisy and distracting.

< Message edited by GoddessManko -- 3/4/2015 8:28:29 AM >

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:46:03 AM   
DaddySatyr


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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

Merc I think that most people would agree that the goal of educating our children with the best possible education available. And that all children should be well educated.

The issue as I see it is the method of getting to the goal. I personally common core isn't it. It, in my opinion, holds back achievers and pushes forward under achievers. Then it says they all got the same benefit. If an 8 yr old could become an MD (and I am speaking purely hypothetically because I am not so sure that is possible) then don't make the 8 yr old wait until s/he becomes 20 something to get there. At the same time, if a 10 yr old can't comprehend the education, hold him/her back until they achieve the necessary level of comprehension.



I don't know that social promotion is a residual of Common Core.

I am experiencing Common Core, currently, as a "non-traditional student". I haven't been in a math class in 34 years and the way they are teaching the math (never my strongest subject, to be honest) left me scratching my head to the point where I needed to drop the class.

What bothers me the most is that the new "Common Core way" of doing math involves (what appears to me) a whole lot of useless, pointless machinations to get one to the answer. It's a whole different way from what I learned to get to the desired result.

Of course, some of the blame has to go to my instructor who had a student like me in her class and can barely speak English. I'm sure she's a whiz-bang at math but mixing up words and inter-changing math terms which shouldn't be is not going to help un-confuzzle me.



Michael

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:55:26 AM   
BamaD


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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

Merc I think that most people would agree that the goal of educating our children with the best possible education available. And that all children should be well educated.

The issue as I see it is the method of getting to the goal. I personally common core isn't it. It, in my opinion, holds back achievers and pushes forward under achievers. Then it says they all got the same benefit. If an 8 yr old could become an MD (and I am speaking purely hypothetically because I am not so sure that is possible) then don't make the 8 yr old wait until s/he becomes 20 something to get there. At the same time, if a 10 yr old can't comprehend the education, hold him/her back until they achieve the necessary level of comprehension.



I don't know that social promotion is a residual of Common Core.

I am experiencing Common Core, currently, as a "non-traditional student". I haven't been in a math class in 34 years and the way they are teaching the math (never my strongest subject, to be honest) left me scratching my head to the point where I needed to drop the class.

What bothers me the most is that the new "Common Core way" of doing math involves (what appears to me) a whole lot of useless, pointless machinations to get one to the answer. It's a whole different way from what I learned to get to the desired result.

Of course, some of the blame has to go to my instructor who had a student like me in her class and can barely speak English. I'm sure she's a whiz-bang at math but mixing up words and inter-changing math terms which shouldn't be is not going to help un-confuzzle me.



Michael

I was always good at math and I found common core very complex, by the time you get to the answer you have forgotten what the question was. It makes new math from the 70s look good. It is almost like they want people to be dependent on calculators.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:56:46 AM   
kdsub


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quote:

The issue as I see it is the method of getting to the goal. I personally common core isn't it. It, in my opinion, holds back achievers and pushes forward under achievers. Then it says they all got the same benefit. If an 8 yr old could become an MD (and I am speaking purely hypothetically because I am not so sure that is possible) then don't make the 8 yr old wait until s/he becomes 20 something to get there. At the same time, if a 10 yr old can't comprehend the education, hold him/her back until they achieve the necessary level of comprehension.


Ken at least in my area this is simply not true... Below are quotes from the Common Core web and one from the Missouri common core web. They address the misconceptions you posted. I find them to be true... at least in my experience. I am very involved in education and campaign for various school board members in my area. They all are pro common core but are willing to address concerns of the general public. Most complaints are not that the standards are too lax but that they are too tough. So getting systems up to the common core standards will raise the overall educations quality not lower it.

"Myths About Content and Quality: General

Myth: Adopting common standards means bringing all states’ standards down to the lowest common denominator. This means that states with high standards are actually taking a step backwards by adopting the Common Core.

Fact: The standards are designed to build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college, career, and life. This will result in moving even the best state standards to the next level. In fact, since this work began, there has been an explicit agreement that no state would lower its standards. The standards were informed by the best in the country, the highest international standards, and evidence and expertise about educational outcomes. We need college- and career-ready standards because even in high‐performing states, students are graduating and passing all the required tests but still need remediation in their postsecondary work."

Here is another:

How will the Common Core State Standards impact gifted children, children with special needs and
English language learners?
The Common Core State Standards create consistent, high expectations for all students and provide a
greater opportunity for states to share experiences and best practices that can lead to an improved ability
to best serve special populations. As with Missouri's current learning standards, school districts will
establish curriculum at the local level to meet the state's learning standards, including the CCSS. Educators
will develop lesson plans that reflect the curriculum and provide for the educational needs of all students,
including those receiving gifted and special education services. The CCSS include information on the
application of the standards for English language learners and students with disabilities. Alternate
assessments are being developed for students with the most severe cognitive disabilities, as are English language
proficiency assessments for English language learners; both are aligned to the CCSS. 3
The CCSS do not encompass everything that could or should be taught, and educators are free to go above
and beyond the standards for gifted students as well as make modifications for special education students. "

Perhaps things are different in other areas... this would surprise me however because the very idea of common core is to keep good education curriculum's consistent across systems.

Butch

< Message edited by kdsub -- 3/4/2015 8:58:18 AM >

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 9:33:19 AM   
joether


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

I know what the Common Core is.

Did you read anything I posted or any of the millions of articles online?


Does help to have a starting point

People are against Common Core because its not the 'one size solves all problems in education' they have all been led to believe. An I mean that towards all sides of the political spectrum. Perhaps people on here could take a Practice Quiz at different grade levels? I got 9/10 correct including the bonus!

I understand that many dislike Common Core. Yet, how many of them have given a better system that works? Across each grade level, across the country, given all the cultures, outlooks, and learning systems known to mankind? Not very many. Colleges and Employers are annoyed that those obtaining a diploma are still not possessing the basic level of skills needed to handle performance 'on the job'.

So developing a system, across the board, that helps students out at each grade level, so as to make them ready for adult life (be it college, tradecraft, or just 'out of school job'); is not a piece of cake! On top of that, make sure those students are doing better then other nation's (its that whole country pride thing....). There are several groups that believe they have 'the answer'. I haven't really studied any of them to any decent degree to comment on them yet. They again, my educational background is not on 'childhood development'. I'm always open to improving education standards for the nation's youth (and even young adults). But people would have to sell me on the concept.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 9:51:50 AM   
joether


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quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech
The common core test bank is badly written. But, the concept of academic standards so that a High School diploma from Wherever, Oklahoma is equivalent to one from Outback, Georgia is a valid goal.

So far, only the SATs and ACTs act as a common comparison between school districts and those only test those with aspirations for further education.

I remember the attempt at Academic Standards Testing back in the late 1970s. That died on the vine when it was shown that 60% of the teachers could not pass standard testing in the subjects they were hired to teach.

When you don't understand the subject it is easy to fall back on teaching the test bank.


Education, unlike chemistry and physics, is a soft science. Meaning the 'exactness' will never be the same as the hard scieces in understanding our reality, but being 'close' helps more than making uneducated guesses. The nation has created thousands of different ways for students to learn. They all of their share of problems big and small. The various fields in psychology have tried to develop standards and education formats to best help the situation. But through many of these failures, do we learn what works. In little bits. The way students were educated in the 1950's looks nothing like 2015! But then the children of the 1950's didnt have to deal with the culture and technology of 2015.

So developing good ways of teaching, that can be applied across the nation. That can be tested for consistency at each grade level. And upon diploma, tell colleges, trade craft people, and other employers "this student has the basic skills needed to start their adult life'. And, do it better than students in other countries! Not an easy task to over come by any stretch of the imagination.

For myself, I feel a good way to do that, is to expose kids to concepts and activities outside of the class room. That is where they can apply what they have learned in 'the real world' to see how things operate. That ther education builds upon their life at each step. My concern is that technology is growing at such a rapid pace, that educators can not keep up with it. That the technology when those kinds were in the 1st grade, to the technical level when they are 12th grade, is surpassing them. So weighing how technology will changes in consideration with overall education is fucking impossible!

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 11:44:27 AM   
thishereboi


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quote:

ORIGINAL: MercTech


quote:

ORIGINAL: Tkman117

So tell me when was the last time you took an exam of 150 questions where you needed a 50% average to keep your job or get over 80% to get a raise?

Just because you can't concievably think of an alternative does not mean there isn't one. Do you think those engineers threw their hands up in the air and said "well, Apollo 13 is fucked." Humans are intelligent creatures, and by limiting your opinion to "well it's the only concievable solution" speaks volumes about yorself and your political ideology.


January 27th 2015... You had to get above 80% to keep the job. You could retest if you got above 60% but below that you were fired.

Yes, periodic re-qualification written testing is the norm in many technical fields.



You have to take a test to be certified to work in most medical fields also. Then you have to re-test and get continuing education credits.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 1:16:57 PM   
KenDckey


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Status: offline 		I was at an adult night school offered by a community in various subjects of interest to the community. Not for credit, just for fun. The school also offered GED classes. I got there early and was standing outside smoking with some girl in the GED class. She couldn't understand the need for math.

I asked her if she ever wanted to go to Europe on vacation. She said yes she would. She wanted to go to Italy. Being the days before the Euro I asked her if something cost 5,000 lire how much it was if the conversion rate was 1750 lire to the dollar. She said she had no clue. I told her that if she couldn't figure it out in her head with some degree of accuracy, that she could well pay way to much for whatever it was that she was wanting. She agreed and that maybe math had some use. A slight motivation moment.

From my experience, those motivational moments are few and far between in common core.

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/4/2015 8:36:00 PM   
Marini


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Status: offline 		By the way, I have NO issue with testing, and giving students tests to see what level they are on, what strengths they have, and getting a handle on where they are educationally.

I grew up taking tests like the California Achievement Test.
Taking a standardized test, for an hour or two, ONCE a year, is a long way from the relentless testing that is now taking place in most school systems.

My problem, is when testing begins to be the major focus of the school year.
When teachers spend half or more of the school year, teaching to the test, and testing.

I think FMK, did an excellent job explaining many of her concerns and the pitfalls she has witnessed first hand..
I also did a fair job, presenting a teacher of the year, disillusioned with testing, and I for one, am glad to see so many parents that are against the Common Core.



< Message edited by Marini -- 3/4/2015 8:39:25 PM >

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/5/2015 12:25:58 AM   
joether


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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

I was at an adult night school offered by a community in various subjects of interest to the community. Not for credit, just for fun. The school also offered GED classes. I got there early and was standing outside smoking with some girl in the GED class. She couldn't understand the need for math.

I asked her if she ever wanted to go to Europe on vacation. She said yes she would. She wanted to go to Italy. Being the days before the Euro I asked her if something cost 5,000 lire how much it was if the conversion rate was 1750 lire to the dollar. She said she had no clue. I told her that if she couldn't figure it out in her head with some degree of accuracy, that she could well pay way to much for whatever it was that she was wanting. She agreed and that maybe math had some use. A slight motivation moment.

From my experience, those motivational moments are few and far between in common core.


In the Boy Scout field manual, there is everything one needs to handle a few days of wilderness survival. Just about everything you might encountered is covered in the book. Yet, most whom read just the book, fail many of the concepts. The reason is the 'doing part'. Its one thing to read how to create a bow with sticks and string; its another to do it at night while your freezing your ass off! That one has to be able to take 'book learning' and apply it. When they apply it, the information from the book is reinforced on a deeper level.

But its up to educators, parents, and even other adults to show these students how 'book learning' is applied in the real world. When that happens, the information becomes 'applicable', rather than 'just theory'. Thereby allowing more advance concepts to be learned (and in some cases, easier to learn them). But if we dont give that practical applications, when we move onto the more advanced stuff, the basics are not learned. Holes, metaphorically speaking, are created in their learning. To which people have to go back, re-apply the teaching, and test quickly to see if the student understands before returning to the issue(s) at hand.

Hence why we encourage students to do activities that challenge them on several fronts rather than a narrow band of skills. I use Boy Scouts as an example, because to get Eagle Scout, requires a grand majority of skills. Colleges and the military...LOVE...Eagle Scouts. I'm not advocating every boy and girl joins the Boy Scouts (girls can get Eagle by joining the Explorers, I think). Just as an example of taking school theory and giving them a reason to make it a practical application.

< Message edited by joether -- 3/5/2015 12:28:19 AM >

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/5/2015 12:29:40 AM   
DaddySatyr


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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

I was at an adult night school offered by a community in various subjects of interest to the community. Not for credit, just for fun. The school also offered GED classes. I got there early and was standing outside smoking with some girl in the GED class. She couldn't understand the need for math.

I asked her if she ever wanted to go to Europe on vacation. She said yes she would. She wanted to go to Italy. Being the days before the Euro I asked her if something cost 5,000 lire how much it was if the conversion rate was 1750 lire to the dollar. She said she had no clue. I told her that if she couldn't figure it out in her head with some degree of accuracy, that she could well pay way to much for whatever it was that she was wanting. She agreed and that maybe math had some use. A slight motivation moment.

From my experience, those motivational moments are few and far between in common core.



See, if I had to describe my experience with Common Core (so far, only one of my professors has spouted it and near as I can tell it has only effected the Math department, at my school), the actual lack of teaching ... of motivating, connecting with students would be my general rub. All students are (or should be) the same is what Common Core aims for but we aren't all the same. We all have different strengths and weaknesses.

Look, I am never going to be a mathematician. I have neither the desire nor the "correct brain" for it. Since dropping the class (and having a minor melt down over it), my uncle has been trying to work with me and, to his credit, he has made some of the things easier but, we have had a personal relationship for 50 years.

Common Core seems to be about making sure you change all the numbers to either 5 or 10 and then, doing some extra work to get the answer we all know.

From fifth grade (aged 10) on, I have been absolutely lost at Math. I never got passed Geometry (I didn't have to, in order to graduate from H.S.) and I have to tell you: I have never uttered the phrase: "Damn! I wish I'd taken algebra!" You can insert the word "Calculus" in there, as well (although quite a few people have told me that my pool game would be even better, if I had studied trigonometry).

I have the ability (if I need to) to figure out percentages, fairly well and I memorized all my multiplication tables (up to 12). I can buy and sell things and figure in the tax. I can figure out what the mortgage payment on the new house might be. None of this was taught to me under Common Core (obviously). So, why is it that Common Core wasn't able to teach me about Prime Numbers and what an integer is? or, why (X-A)(X+A) = X² - A² is an important thing to know (and one, I already knew, although I didn't know the algebraic formula)?

I think someone like me, who is just being thrown into this is a good gauge of what this might be all about and from where I'm sitting, it's crap on warm toast.



Michael

< Message edited by DaddySatyr -- 3/5/2015 12:30:52 AM >

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RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/5/2015 5:52:39 AM   
KenDckey


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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

I was at an adult night school offered by a community in various subjects of interest to the community. Not for credit, just for fun. The school also offered GED classes. I got there early and was standing outside smoking with some girl in the GED class. She couldn't understand the need for math.

I asked her if she ever wanted to go to Europe on vacation. She said yes she would. She wanted to go to Italy. Being the days before the Euro I asked her if something cost 5,000 lire how much it was if the conversion rate was 1750 lire to the dollar. She said she had no clue. I told her that if she couldn't figure it out in her head with some degree of accuracy, that she could well pay way to much for whatever it was that she was wanting. She agreed and that maybe math had some use. A slight motivation moment.

From my experience, those motivational moments are few and far between in common core.



See, if I had to describe my experience with Common Core (so far, only one of my professors has spouted it and near as I can tell it has only effected the Math department, at my school), the actual lack of teaching ... of motivating, connecting with students would be my general rub. All students are (or should be) the same is what Common Core aims for but we aren't all the same. We all have different strengths and weaknesses.

Look, I am never going to be a mathematician. I have neither the desire nor the "correct brain" for it. Since dropping the class (and having a minor melt down over it), my uncle has been trying to work with me and, to his credit, he has made some of the things easier but, we have had a personal relationship for 50 years.

Common Core seems to be about making sure you change all the numbers to either 5 or 10 and then, doing some extra work to get the answer we all know.

From fifth grade (aged 10) on, I have been absolutely lost at Math. I never got passed Geometry (I didn't have to, in order to graduate from H.S.) and I have to tell you: I have never uttered the phrase: "Damn! I wish I'd taken algebra!" You can insert the word "Calculus" in there, as well (although quite a few people have told me that my pool game would be even better, if I had studied trigonometry).

I have the ability (if I need to) to figure out percentages, fairly well and I memorized all my multiplication tables (up to 12). I can buy and sell things and figure in the tax. I can figure out what the mortgage payment on the new house might be. None of this was taught to me under Common Core (obviously). So, why is it that Common Core wasn't able to teach me about Prime Numbers and what an integer is? or, why (X-A)(X+A) = X² - A² is an important thing to know (and one, I already knew, although I didn't know the algebraic formula)?

I think someone like me, who is just being thrown into this is a good gauge of what this might be all about and from where I'm sitting, it's crap on warm toast.



Michael


I had to use calculus last month when drawing up a plan for a home project. I was considering making a top for one of my utility trailers that I had put sides on. The calculus helped in determining the materials list as well as the angles required for the project.

For fun between my 8th and 9th grade, I took one of my uncles books from college and studied nuclear physics. I hadn't had algebra (didn't get that until the 9th grade). It was a challenge and the prof gave me tests (which didn't count toward college credit) just to see how I would do. He was looking for something worth studying and I guess he thought I was a test case. I understood a lot of the concepts but had a terrible time with the math required.

(in reply to DaddySatyr)
Profile   Post #: 56
RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/5/2015 8:53:04 AM   
Aylee


Posts: 24103
Joined: 10/14/2007
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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr


quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

I was at an adult night school offered by a community in various subjects of interest to the community. Not for credit, just for fun. The school also offered GED classes. I got there early and was standing outside smoking with some girl in the GED class. She couldn't understand the need for math.

I asked her if she ever wanted to go to Europe on vacation. She said yes she would. She wanted to go to Italy. Being the days before the Euro I asked her if something cost 5,000 lire how much it was if the conversion rate was 1750 lire to the dollar. She said she had no clue. I told her that if she couldn't figure it out in her head with some degree of accuracy, that she could well pay way to much for whatever it was that she was wanting. She agreed and that maybe math had some use. A slight motivation moment.

From my experience, those motivational moments are few and far between in common core.



See, if I had to describe my experience with Common Core (so far, only one of my professors has spouted it and near as I can tell it has only effected the Math department, at my school), the actual lack of teaching ... of motivating, connecting with students would be my general rub. All students are (or should be) the same is what Common Core aims for but we aren't all the same. We all have different strengths and weaknesses.

Look, I am never going to be a mathematician. I have neither the desire nor the "correct brain" for it. Since dropping the class (and having a minor melt down over it), my uncle has been trying to work with me and, to his credit, he has made some of the things easier but, we have had a personal relationship for 50 years.

Common Core seems to be about making sure you change all the numbers to either 5 or 10 and then, doing some extra work to get the answer we all know.

From fifth grade (aged 10) on, I have been absolutely lost at Math. I never got passed Geometry (I didn't have to, in order to graduate from H.S.) and I have to tell you: I have never uttered the phrase: "Damn! I wish I'd taken algebra!" You can insert the word "Calculus" in there, as well (although quite a few people have told me that my pool game would be even better, if I had studied trigonometry).

I have the ability (if I need to) to figure out percentages, fairly well and I memorized all my multiplication tables (up to 12). I can buy and sell things and figure in the tax. I can figure out what the mortgage payment on the new house might be. None of this was taught to me under Common Core (obviously). So, why is it that Common Core wasn't able to teach me about Prime Numbers and what an integer is? or, why (X-A)(X+A) = X² - A² is an important thing to know (and one, I already knew, although I didn't know the algebraic formula)?

I think someone like me, who is just being thrown into this is a good gauge of what this might be all about and from where I'm sitting, it's crap on warm toast.



Michael



A couple of thoughts for you:

You may be "girl-brained" in math and that is what causes your difficulties. Females tend to do better with math formulas and such if they are told WHY it works instead of just memorizing the steps to do something. For example, long division. I am sure you can do all of the steps in long division to get the answer, but do you know WHY those steps work to get the answer? Knowing that may likely make it much easier for you.

The solution is to go to your prof's office hours and have them explain the WHY, if you do not want to just ask in class.

As far as the weirdness of common core maths. . . when my daughter was in first grade she started bring home these math homework sheets. It was quite difficult for me to help her because they concepts were so strange. And I have the training and education to teach K-8 maths. I will say that she did not get the worksheets very well either.

Now that she is in 2nd grade, the worksheets are somewhat better. But. . . we have to do the math the "old fashioned way," in order for her to get the answers. Which means re-writing all the problems out out on another sheet of paper. Yay fun, right?

So you know, I still have not found out what those dayum trains were all about.

Another issue with common core maths is that it focuses on "grade-level." People do NOT work that way. Children's brains actually have to reach certain milestones before they can grasp certain math concepts. If it has not developed that far, they are not going to get it. Which is why rote memorization of the maths tables is such a good idea.

Also keep in mind that some adults and children are just not that bright. Not everyone is on the right side of the bell curve.

_____________________________

Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam

I don’t always wgah’nagl fhtagn. But when I do, I ph’nglui mglw’nafh R’lyeh.

(in reply to DaddySatyr)
Profile   Post #: 57
RE: Students Revolt over Common Core Testing - 3/5/2015 4:34:29 PM   
KenDckey


Posts: 4121
Joined: 5/31/2006
Status: offline 		http://dailysignal.com/2015/03/04/loophole-liberate-maryland-common-core-testing/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=thf03052015CommonCore

Maryland is now considering opting out of the standardized testing.

(in reply to Aylee)
Profile   Post #: 58
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