tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29305944834011601342024-03-08T16:19:50.065-08:00MathRight : Improving Math Education in OntarioClivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-48234998708105067332014-01-21T07:55:00.001-08:002014-01-21T07:55:08.268-08:00TV Ontario, The Agenda<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TV Ontario's The Agenda With Steve Paikin covered the issues surrounding declining PISA math scores and the math curriculum on Thursday, January 16. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Video of the program (again, featuring your blog host) can be found <a href="http://ww3.tvo.org/video/199385/math-matters" target="_blank">here</a>. </span>Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-46654522026912292732014-01-14T10:43:00.001-08:002014-01-15T09:47:56.099-08:00CBC Radio Spot<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yours truly appeared on the CBC Ottawa drive time show All In A Day last Friday to discuss math curriculum. Audio can be found at <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/allinaday/2014/01/10/at-odds-on-math/" target="_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/allinaday/2014/01/10/at-odds-on-math/</a></span><br />
<br />Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-25267950274548733522014-01-14T10:41:00.003-08:002014-01-14T10:41:27.213-08:00Discovery math chaos in Kanata<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This story from an Ottawa area high school is one example, albeit an extreme one, of the consequences of unrestrained discovery math teaching:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/01/12/math-class-doesnt-add-up-for-parents-at-earl-of-march-high-school" target="_blank">Math class doesn't add up</a> - Ottawa Sun</span><br />
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<br />Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-40177825969189066712014-01-10T06:39:00.003-08:002014-01-10T06:48:16.820-08:00Updates and Relaunch: January 2014Teresa Murray has started a petition to reform the math curriculum in Ontario, and there has been considerable media interest in the issue over the last six months, so we are relaunching this blog in hopes that we can contribute and build momentum for change.<br />
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Please, if you have not already done so, go and <a href="http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/honourable-liz-sandals-parents-would-like-to-see-changes-to-math-education-in-ontario-we-would-like-a-more-structured-system-and-a-solid-foundation-in-arithmetic-and-problem-solving" target="_blank">sign the petition</a>.<br />
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Minister of Education Liz Sandals has announced $4M in new funding for teacher training in math; at the same time she has ruled out any curriculum changes. While funding and training are welcome, we believe the fundamentals of the "discovery" approach are at fault, and without reform of the curriculum we do not expect this funding to achieve the best results.<br />
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Recent media coverage:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Globe and Mail:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/petitions-press-provinces-to-put-emphasis-on-basic-math-skills/article16240118/" target="_blank">Math wrath: Parents and teachers demanding a return to basic skills</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/teachers-concerned-about-declining-math-scores/article15815304/" target="_blank">Teachers concerned about declining math scores</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/ontario-unveils-4-million-math-upgrade-plan-amid-demands-for-overhaul/article16242302/" target="_blank">Ontario unveils $4-million math upgrade plan</a></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">National Post:</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/01/09/robyn-urback-ontario-gives-teachers-4-million-to-brush-up-on-provinces-shoddy-math-curriculum/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ontario gives teachers $4-million to brush up on province’s shoddy math curriculum</span></a><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Toronto Star:</span></u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/01/08/one_step_forward_in_ontario_math_education_doesnt_add_up_to_much_editorial.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One step forward in Ontario math education doesn’t add up to much: Editorial</span></a><br />
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<br />Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-88943754150158739592012-10-03T06:24:00.000-07:002012-10-03T06:24:24.937-07:00As go the west and Ontario, so goes N.S.This article today from the Chronicle Herald highlights that the random, abstract "discovery" method has taken hold in Nova Scotia as well. It's a great insight into the mind of the experts pushing the new approaches, however. <a href="http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/142943-how-to-make-math-education-worse-in-ns" target="_blank">How to make math education worse in N.S.</a>Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-18127570074327583152012-09-18T10:53:00.001-07:002012-09-18T10:53:18.214-07:00New Math Not Adding UpThis from the Toronto Sun this Saturday: <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2012/09/14/new-math-not-adding-up?utm_source=addThis&utm_medium=addthis_button_blogger&utm_campaign=New+math+not+adding+up+%7C+Columnists+%7C+Opinion+%7C+Toronto+Sun#.UFi06khgeNs.blogger">New math not adding up | Columnists | Opinion | Toronto Sun</a>Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-5204044315258224562012-09-14T08:35:00.002-07:002012-09-14T08:35:57.566-07:00Math Scores Lag in Latest Tests in Ontario<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Globe and Mail has this article: <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/eqao-results-show-dip-in-grade-6-math-skills/article4538863/" target="_blank">EQAO results show dip in Grade 6 math skills</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Math remains a trouble spot for Ontario students according to standardized test results released Wednesday morning.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>While students continue post promising gains in their reading and writing skills, math scores are slipping, based on data collected by the province’s <a href="http://www.eqao.com/pdf_e/12/EQAO_PJ9_Highlights_2012.pdf" style="background-color: transparent; color: red; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Education Quality and Accountability Office</a>.</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></div>
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Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-41887822248492031762012-07-03T11:42:00.000-07:002012-07-03T11:42:12.380-07:00Without Mathematical Rigor...... catastrophic results can occur. This is a great paper submitted by a MathRight member, describing how a failure to instill mathematical rigor in school and college students can have expensive and potentially life threatening consequences.<br />
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<a title="View Math Rigor Failure ME V4 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/99014472/Math-Rigor-Failure-ME-V4" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Math Rigor Failure ME V4</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/99014472/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-173qiz47tpt8q7bc382b" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" scrolling="no" id="doc_89454" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe>Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930594483401160134.post-18560007960178756562012-07-03T11:35:00.001-07:002012-07-03T11:35:10.025-07:00Why your kids can’t add without a calculator | National PostAn excellent article from the National Post yesterday. H/t <a href="http://wisemath.org/" target="_blank">WISEMath.org</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/07/02/konstantin-kakaes-why-your-kids-cant-add-without-a-calculator/#disqus_thread">Why your kids can’t add without a calculator | Full Comment | National Post</a>Clivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09333852902837896672noreply@blogger.com0