Georgia's Math Program

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?

Bad words not spoken here.

Maybe this will convince my students that certain language is best left at home.

Yeah. Right.

fulgurite

Fulgurite is formed when lightening strikes sand and changes the sand into glass.

(It is not as pretty in reality as the one shown in "Sweet Home Alabama" but instead is usually hollow and gritty)

When something finally strikes my students and sets them afire, will they be as fundamentally changed?

Six Word Saturday

Brat is NOT a learning disability.



Attitude majorly affects both your grade and your teacher's willingness to assist, but just because you are unwilling to go along with the program and follow the rules doesn't mean that I have to go out of my way to make up work you will miss while sitting in time out.

Most intelligent creatures learn this before they enter kindergarten. Sorry you are a slow learner.


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So glad tomorrow is Friday

The only thing better would be if TODAY were Friday.

One class (boys) kept wadding up paper and throwing it at each other. Except it wasn't trash paper when they started.

Another had 2 boys sign out to go to the bathroom - and never return.

My class-from-hell would not stop talking and so I got nothing done.

And a parent is mad at ME because another teacher wrote her darling up and I don't know why. Well, ask whoever did the write up because we aren't told.

States as movies

Writing from here in Deliverence, I have to admit I find this funny!!

We have lost our collective minds

Or at least, some of us have.

I heard a colleague warn another to be careful about posting a particular situation on FB - so guess what was just posted on FB?

I had people in my room observing the class that is either supposed to set me up for failure - or the kids that were put in there. And I am sure I will hear how I am not going deep enough - when I cannot get the kids to grasp the surface level.

I am supposed to deal with crap in my inbox - but the server is down.

I am so tired of hearing things in my class room that are completely inappropriate and not related to what I teach. I'd write the kids up but first I have to talk to the parents - and I really don't want to tell the parents that their child said (loud enough for the entire class to hear) "You lick her butt hole?"

I am tired of kids who think the rules don't apply to them - but I really don't want to spend all my free time writing them up........

What happened to just coming and learning?