Everyday Math cirriculum?

[Beth76]

Who has experience with this? Good or bad? My son starts K in the fall and my district is just starting this program in the fall. I went to a parent meeting about it the other night but it didn't really explain much.

 

[disykat]

My only beef with this program has been it doesn't emphaisize memorization of facts. When our district adopted the program, teachers were encouraged to use it "as is". Most added "fact practice" back into their curriculums within the next year or so.

Watch for "family letters" that come home. They help you keep track of what your child is doing (that will become very important as they advance grade levels and are using different algorithms than you are used to!) and give you answers to the "home links". Even in the early grades, it can be hard to tell what they are looking for sometimes on the homework.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the program introduces a lot of new concepts, but doesn't expect mastery. You can't expect 100%'s on tests.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I agree with the lack of memorization of facts - I think they should come at it from both angles, but our school does not..so we try to emphasize it at home.

We have mixed feelings about it - see the reasoning behind some of it...but also there are problems...for example - the introduction without mastery thing won't work if you have a less than compassionate teacher who comes down on the kids for not getting something the first time - all the while we have been telling DD "not to worry, you are not expected to get it 100%", etc...

Also, I don't think it works well for all students.....wish I could get more specific.

The biggest problem we have with it is that we feel WE are doing the teaching. I have no problem spending time on homework reinforcing what was taught in the classroom, but I resent it when I feel we are left to do most of the teaching.....

 

[makinorlando]

My only beef with this program has been it doesn't emphaisize memorization of facts. .

Even in the early grades, it can be hard to tell what they are looking for sometimes on the homework.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the program introduces a lot of new concepts, but doesn't expect mastery. You can't expect 100%'s on tests.

I so totally agree - I always thought it was just that I was so "old school" math, that the concepts of Everyday Math just seem so odd to me!

One night you are doing addition of double digit numbers, and the next you are doing volumes?

They teach numerous methods to get to the same answer, and my thought is WHY not memorize?

DD will tell me when I help her solve a problem ... that's not the way Mrs. P. did it.... well, I still got to the same answer!

I agree with the mastery comment as well. They will be working on something, and before DD has time to really grasp it they move on and re-visit it again a few lessons later????

 

[ilovemcbride]

I've got two words for you and your son...good luck.

 

[swanmom]

I totally agree with disykat and pansmermaidlagoon..........definitely doesn't do enough to insure basic facts mastery. Also, I would add my biggest complaint about the program - there are not enough practice opportunities or outside materials to help kids who need extra repetition in order to 'nail' it down. My DD needs lots of practice in order to really fully get a math concept. In Everyday Math, there are often only one or two problems in the book to illustrate a new concept AND there are no additional outside-of-class practice materials available. So, if my DD needs additional reinforcement outside of class, I have to make up problems and worksheets myself to be sure she get opportunity to work a concept through with more than one or two examples. It is really frustrating when you are trying to help your kid at home and there is virtually no support available. You have do it all yourself.

 

[Hollybh]

We absolutely despise the Everyday math program. It is an experiment for our children and only works for one learning style. I have a child in gifted education, not because I wanted her there but because she was getting poor grades because she was borded. The math program is the only problem she has and I attribute it to this horrible style of teaching. Teachers tell you that repetition is the best way for children to learn and then they throw in this spiral curriculum. It is an absolute joke that does not teach mastery in any area of math. All the ways to do things are different, confusing, and way more time consuming than need be. Its amazing how a kid can score in the top 98% of the nation in every subject INCLUDING math for standardized testing but then not grasp math concepts taught in the classroom. We are very upset about this program and more concerned that the educators and school board do not listen to the majority of parents who are opposed to it.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'm confused. Is this the Guessing Math, where they give the kids problems that they haven't taught them to solve and have them guess at the answer? Or did they decide that didn't work, but have a new, exciting, fluid way of teaching math?

God forbid the teachers teach them the steps and then have the kids memorize the facts and work the problems out. That's so old-fashioned.

 

[Gupsmom]

I actually don't mind the Everyday Math program. I'm a math person and my DH is a high school (AP calculus) math teacher. Our kids are in 4th, 3rd and 1st grade. Our school does suppliment Everyday Math with rote math skills and drills....for example, our kids take timed math test. One thing I do like about everyday math. It encourages kids to THINK about WHY math works, instead of just spitting out answers. It also introduces advanced concepts, at an early age, in bits and pieces. Because of this, my 1st grader is introduced to the concept of algebra (she just doesn't know it).

Jess

 

[Gupsmom]

I'm confused. Is this the Guessing Math, where they give the kids problems that they haven't taught them to solve and have them guess at the answer? Or did they decide that didn't work, but have a new, exciting, fluid way of teaching math?

God forbid the teachers teach them the steps and then have the kids memorize the facts and work the problems out. That's so old-fashioned.

No...I'm not sure what that is, but it's not everyday math.

 

[Gupsmom]

We absolutely despise the Everyday math program. It is an experiment for our children and only works for one learning style. I have a child in gifted education, not because I wanted her there but because she was getting poor grades because she was borded. The math program is the only problem she has and I attribute it to this horrible style of teaching. Teachers tell you that repetition is the best way for children to learn and then they throw in this spiral curriculum. It is an absolute joke that does not teach mastery in any area of math. All the ways to do things are different, confusing, and way more time consuming than need be. Its amazing how a kid can score in the top 98% of the nation in every subject INCLUDING math for standardized testing but then not grasp math concepts taught in the classroom. We are very upset about this program and more concerned that the educators and school board do not listen to the majority of parents who are opposed to it.

This isn't for the sake of arguement...just thought I'd give a different perspective.

Our son is in gifted programming too. We've actually had the opposite experience with him and Everyday Math. Because they don't dwell on one subject for too long, he doesn't get bored and lose interest. He catches on so quickly that the bouncing around is good for him. He also retains everything so going back to something he hasn't done in a while is not a problem. I've actually seen more problems with kids that have trouble in math. They start to catch on and then the topic changes. Then, when they go back to that topic again, they have to start all over because they didn't retain it the first time.

My son also likes the different methods...even though I agree that they are longer and more comlicated. I think he likes to see how it "works" even when he does it a diferent way....but then, he's kind-of funny that way..LOL

Jess

 

[Lisa L from MI]

OMG I just hated Everyday math! My kids are now 13 and 10. I just thank goodness they understood it and didn't need help with their work. I just didn't understand the "concept"......just seemed a whole lot easier and faster the way I was taught.

Oh....and in our district, once they go to middle school.....no more everyday math.....they learn it the way I was taught!!! It just makes no sense!!!

 

[clh2]

I am not a fan of this type of program at all. I have had numerous discussions with our cirriculum director in our school district about the math programs.

DD is now in 7th grade, and our school district switched entirely to these types of programs throughout all the schools. Luckily, for DD, this change was made in 5th grade. So at least she got some "real math" in the earlier grades. In our middle school, they've moved into Connected Mathematics, which is the "middle-school" version of Everyday Math.

These programs spend more time on the students being able to "accurately, and in full sentences" write how they would solve the problem, than solving the problems. IMHO, they should save the writing skills for language arts, instead of math.

There is a lot of info on the web, of course I can't find it tonight, that you should research.

Our district apparently made this decision because our Math test scores are low in the district. So, they think this is going to be the fix. Unfortunately, the district has resorted to small math classes (i.e. 18 kids in a class), and that isn't helping the scores. By the time they figure out this program sucks, it will be too late for my DD. Also, the other thing I don't like about her current math teacher is the classroom concept. It is to "think, pair and share". The student is supposed to "think" on their own how to solve the problem, then they get paired up, so the smarter kids can try to explain their methodology to the not-as-smart kids, and then the pairs get to share with the class. This drives me nuts. And, personally, I just wish the teacher would teach instead.

The other thing that drives me nuts, there really aren't good explanations in the books, that could help a parent explain a concept. Luckily for me, I have a very strong math background, and I just need to dust off a couple of brain cells to get into the concept. Our school district has NEVER sent home any info that might explain the concept. I really feal sorry for the many parents that just don't understand the concepts they are trying to teach.

There was an interesting article in the NY Times, maybe a month ago about these types of programs. The article talked about a grass roots efforts from the parents,and if I recall, their group was called, "Where's the Math?" Need I say more on that one.

I wish beyond anything that we would have a traditional math program, or at least be able to make that decision for our own individual children.

I will step off my soap box now...

 

[golfgal]

The public schools in our old town used this for about 5 years. They finally stopped and went back to a more traditional math when most of the kids couldn't pass the basic standards math test that was given to 8th graders and 10th graders in our state in order to graduate. They now have a 90% pass rate on the math part of the state test.

Our twins have done Saxon math since 1st grade and I LOVE that program!! They have been bumped up to 7th grade math (they are in 6th grade) here at their new school. They both have 100% in math class after the first trimester. Their math isn't easy, traditional math text book-they just understand how it works I guess. They are good students but I wouldn't consider them math whizzes or anything.

 

[Cindy B]

Hate it!

As others have stated it shows more concepts than applications. I was never truly fond of it as it emphasizes "regression of the mean".

Basically that phrase means that higher level or mid high level students are sort of brought down to a lower level for all. Basically that means the higher level kids are bored and the lower level kids are brought up to a higher level.

There are tons of visual applications-like draw patterns and such. I don't mind that in a K-1st setting, but my 5th grader certainly didnt need to see patterns of 10. (yes this was 5th grade homework)

My son went to middle school this year. His middle school used everyday math.. guess what-even though in a 7th grade math class (he's in 6th grade), he never learned specific applications (division!). I can't believe that he never learned division.

 

[punkin]

I liked it. DD was introduced to new concepts very quickly and "got" them. There was no time for her to be bored with the constant repetition.

 

[Buckalew11]

Sister's kids used this method. We found it horrible.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

One vote here in favor of the Everyday Math. With qualifiers.

My "bright" daughter was already in pre-algebra when this was introduced at her school, and she was in the advanced program (they did not do the everyday math), so I can't give an opinion on how she would have done with it.

But my youngest daughter, the "math-challenged" one, who never got higher than C ever in math before, did wonderfully with it. This program approached things in a different way, and for her, it worked, and made her feel more positive about math.
She did begin about 4th grade, when the fact learning had already been in place, but she was able to work the problems and learn the concepts with this method. As to the working things at home, we did receive lots of papers and explanation, ways to help as a parent.

I think it works when traditional methods have not been successful. Is it for everyone? I don't think so. I also strongly believe in the fact memorization. You need that for you base, so maybe the two working together would be a good compromise.

Hope it works out!

 

[pennst8r]

Our oldest DS was just starting school when they started this program. They've not had any problem with it. Our school still makes them memorize all their addition, multiplication, etc.

They show them 3 or 4 ways of doing something, and they do have to learn each option. But after they've learned them, they are allowed to use the one they find works best for them. The theory is that what works for one, won't work for another.

I think the kids who were already in school when they start this program get lost, tho.

I hate the grids they use for one way of doing multiplication --it's bizarre!

 

[bananiem]

Our oldest DS was just starting school when they started this program. They've not had any problem with it. Our school still makes them memorize all their addition, multiplication, etc.

They show them 3 or 4 ways of doing something, and they do have to learn each option. But after they've learned them, they are allowed to use the one they find works best for them. The theory is that what works for one, won't work for another.

I think the kids who were already in school when they start this program get lost, tho.

I hate the grids they use for one way of doing multiplication --it's bizarre!

Lattice multiplication. Makes me but it makes sense to the kids.
My dd's class (7th graders) started EM in 1st grade and do very well on standardized tests in math. Talking with teachers they like the program. Kids get to use whichever way makes sense to them to solve the problems. I like that they don't just learn something and then after that chapter it's forgotten. They continue to go back and use it again.
My dd got dumped into EM because we moved right before her 5th grade year. It was hard for her because everybody else had been doing EM since 1st grade but 6th grade was a breeze. Now she's in Algebra.
My ds is in G&T and has been doing it since 3rd grade. He really likes math and does very well.