In 2005, Georgia rolled out the GPS (Georgia Professional Standards) for math with 6th grade. Those students are now 11th graders. Every year they have had a math class taught by a teacher who has never taught that class before.
The first year it was 6th (math 6). The second, k-2 and 7th (math 7)we re added. The third 3-5 and 8th (math 8). The fourth year 9th (math 1 - don't ask me). The fifth 10th (math 2) and this year 11th (math 3). Next year they add the last piece, math 4.
I cannot speak about k-5. From 6th grade on, there is some data, statistics, probability every year. Math 6 is fractions, 1 step equations. Math 7 is negative numbers, 2 step equations. Math 8 is supposed to introduce 3/4 of what used to be in Algebra 1.
(They struggled with Algebra 1 so rigor is driving it down a year?)
Math 1 - the rest of Algebra 1 (except they don't know it so we end up reteaching all of Algebra 1) and some Geometry (parallel lines and triangles).
Math 2 is quadratics, radical and rational equations, absolute values, inequalities (half of Algebra 2) and circles and right angle trig from Geometry (but you can't really tie it to triangles because they can't remember that).
Math 3 is the rest of Algebra 2 because we are done with Geometry. Math 4 is trig.
(There is accelerated Math 1 - 3 with the kids taking AP Calc or AP Stat instead of the 4th year of accelerated math) So - 2 tracks.
You can't teach it the traditional way which builds on related things because we throw out a piece here and a piece there.
My county opted not to buy any books but to buy calculators instead. So we have to create our own material and we don't have enough calculators.
I am beginning to wonder if I know anything at all because it is getting harder and harder to teach this material because the average student is completely lost.
According to what we are told, this program was used successfully in Massachusetts - but Massachusetts has abandoned it for a traditional Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 system. New York and Virginia apparently had something like this and abandoned it as well. Why does Georgia not see it was abandoned when they buy into stuff like this?
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4 comments:
A friend of mine who is teaching 5 grade, was venting to me about the grade's new math program, Investigations/TERC. Most teachers and students hate this program because its so abstract and philosophical and does not teach direct and concrete concepts at all. (Its an inquiry-based learning program). The students were frustrated in my friends class because they were not understanding the material.
My friend told her students, just do it the way that you are comfortable with and know ho0w to do math. So far my friend's suggestion to her students is working.
That is what I am trying to do but the parts in high school are so disconnected that it is really difficult.
We cannot dump this loser fast enough.
UGGGGHHH!!!!!
Yup, been there, still doing that. It's horrible.
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