Everyday Math Program in elementary school

[missyc]

I remember a discussion a while back about problems with school and a specific program (everyday math) that a lot of parents said they don't like. Why?
DS11 is in 6th grade this year and struggling in math. Actually, he is doing great in his regular 6th grade math class. I think he has an A. But he also has a remediation math class which he is failing. The teacher for the remediation class backed the whole class back to 3rd grade level and has been working her way forward. I don't know exactly where they are now though. Seems weird that he would be failing 3rd grade math, but have an A in 6th grade math. BTW, he's in a different school district than he was in for elementary school.
DD9 (3rd grade) and DD5 (Kindergarten) are in DS's old school and DD9 just got a D in math. She has A+'s in all other subjects. Seemed strange to me. Teacher didn't have any real answers for me, just suggested maybe we hire a tutor.
Anyways, I forgot to ask the teacher, but DD thinks they do use "everyday math". She also says they don't work on math every day. Doesn't seem right to me.
Don't most kids have math lessons everyday?
How 'bout this "everyday math program"? Anybody have info on it for me?
TIA

 

[disykat]

If your children were using Everyday Math, I would think you'd know it. They have "home links" which are daily homework - much of it requiring a lot of parental input. I would be very surprised if they tried to implement the program without the home link part.

I only have a couple of beefs with everyday math since my children do seem to be doing well with it. 1) They don't put much focus on learning math facts - most of the teachers at our school wised up and added that emphasis on their own. 2) Some of the algarithms are so different that it's difficult for parents to help their kids. (and difficult for substitute teachers! - I really got caught by surprise the first time I saw the multiplication lattice)

In general, Everyday Math is a cyclical program where they rotate through all the skills without expecting to meet mastery. They introduce skills early and often, using lots of experiments aimed at obtaining understanding the concepts - mastery comes after understanding. It is different from the "just memorize this, you'll 'get it' later" method which used to predominate.

 

[missyc]

Originally posted by disykat
If your children were using Everyday Math, I would think you'd know it. They have "home links" which are daily homework - much of it requiring a lot of parental input. I would be very surprised if they tried to implement the program without the home link part.

I only have a couple of beefs with everyday math since my children do seem to be doing well with it. 1) They don't put much focus on learning math facts - most of the teachers at our school wised up and added that emphasis on their own. 2) Some of the algarithms are so different that it's difficult for parents to help their kids. (and difficult for substitute teachers! - I really got caught by surprise the first time I saw the multiplication lattice)

In general, Everyday Math is a cyclical program where they rotate through all the skills without expecting to meet mastery. They introduce skills early and often, using lots of experiments aimed at obtaining understanding the concepts - mastery comes after understanding. It is different from the "just memorize this, you'll 'get it' later" method which used to predominate.

You say they don't put much emphasis on learning the math facts. Maybe this is partly to blame for why DS11 is still struggling to memorize the multiplication facts. Driving me crazy, but it's like it just won't click for him.

I just looked through DD's agenda where they write their homework each night. Some of her math homework is called "homelinks" but they only had math homework 1, maybe 2 days a week for the whole first quarter. Some weeks there was NOTHING for math. How can they expect the kids to learn it if they don't work on it daily?
I had a HUGE problem with DS not having math class last year at this same school, but I thought it was a problem with the teacher, not the school. Now I'm starting to wonder. Seems everything took priority over math. Like decorationg the hallway for special occassions, play practices, etc, etc. I was in questioning this many times, but it didn't seem to matter.
So now I guess the question is more of what IS the problem here? The school itself, or the program they use?

 

[Otto's Doll]

Wow! Here in NE PA (at leat where we are) the kids are required to have 2.5 hours of math daily, plus a computer math program (CCC or Successmaker), and they must memorize the math facts. I know my DD has struggled in the past, but our district has tutoring available at no cost, so she did that last year. My DS 11 is in 6th also, and is struggling a bit with math, but he is in an advanced course, so I am okay with it. He will be going to tutoring once a week until he "gets" it.

 

[powellrj]

my DD who is in the 3rd grade is using Everyday Math. I can see the problems already. When my oldest DS was this age, it was called Thinking Math. You didn't learn the x's tables because they felt that it would "just come" to you at some point. Huh????? DS is 21 and still doesn't know what 9x9 is. It was big on estimation. DS who is 13 learned his x's tables very well, they drilled and drilled and drilled and he is also my best math student in the family. DD who is in the 3rd grade has not started x's yet and if she hasn't by after christmas I will be starting them at home. With my oldest DS I tried to teach them to him at home and was told I was confusing him with my methods, I needed to let him learn it their way, well, I am still waiting on him to learn them.

 

[LargoLori]

My DD8 also does the Everyday Math. She is in the 3rd grade. She has Home Link homework everyday. It does require alot of parental involvement and is a fast paced program. This is DD's 1st year with the program. After 2 months I think we are finally getting used to it.


Lori

 

[Otto's Doll]

Hey Lori, one of my best friends just moved to Largo... if you see Laura tell her HI for me!

Oh, yeah, wanted to add that I don't know what Everyday Math is, but it doesn't sound familiar.

 

[tjmw2727]

My dd's are in 2nd and 4th and both have been doing everyday math since k or 1st grade. I personally like the program and my dd's are doing well. My 9yo does know the multiplication tables as well as many other ways to arrive at the correct answer. It iss very much a problem solving program rather than rote memorization.

She is now doing division and lots of geometry. My 2nd grader can do double and triple sum addition and subtraction without much difficulty but it was not easy for me to come to understanding or acceptance of the program. Luckily the elementary school has a meeting at the beginning of every school year to explain the program, home links and answer questions or concerns.

They have a great website at http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/
that may help you.

If I understand your post correctly your 6th grade son's teacher has backed them up to everyday math starting at 3rd? If this is the case then I can see he would be introduced to concepts he may not have seen before - usually taught at later grades. That said the program is set up to help children succeed and I don't understand him failing. They introduce lots of different concepts in each lesson but in a way that the child can master one step at a time. If a 6th grader isn't easily mastering the 3rd grade SRB then I would have to assume he isn't being given proper instruction. Perhaps the teacher is trying the program without having had instruction? - just a thought.

For example my dd may have 8 problems on a page - two addition, two geometry, two word problems and two number sets. She will never have a "page of additon" for example.

I would consider meeting with both math teachers to see what the programs are and what the goals are.

If the child is using everyday math then the parents should be aware and informed. I know at least 2x a week we get a home link for the parents. This is not homework usually but more of a parent infomatin sheet. We also have a lot of homework that involves - "show someone at home what you know about "______" and make up two problems using "________" and ask someone at home to solve them.

HTH
TJ

 

[Gupsmom]

Everyday math has it's positive and it's negative side.

On the positive: Everyday Math does teach kids to think. That's missing in a great deal of our education system. Instead of just spitting out memorized facts, everyday math focuses on problem solving.

On the negative: Problem solving (thinking things through) is great but some things still need to be memorized. So far, I'm happy with the balanced approach our teachers are using. My DH is a high school math teacher and I've always been a strong math person. If we feel my kids aren't memorizing their tables, you can bet we'll make sure they do. Too much of what they need to learn later depends on it. As for being told we're confusing the kids, I've learned to ignore that stuff. Our local schools are wonderful, but, like most schools, they need to focus on the entire class. My job is to focus on my children. So far my kids are thriving and they LOVE math .

Jess

 

[Toby'sFriend]

hate it - I don't have time to answer much more right now but if you google a bit you can find alot of criticism for this particular program.


http://www.lit.net/orschools/everydaymath2.htm

 

[mudnuri]

My DD's have everday math- 1 in 2nd grade 1 in 3rd grade.

They both love it, we love it and they are thriving in it.

They do learn mulitiplication- DD3rd grade is now...but they are not memorizing the times table like we did.

I think the majority of people who dont like it, dont like change in general. We roll with the punches

Brandy

 

[tjmw2727]

Ok - had to cut short and take the kids to school!

Wanted to add that my older dd's 3rd and now 4th grade teacher is also having the kids learn the tables in addition to the everyday math. Both kids have to practice some type of math in addition to homework anyway they choose every day. My 2nd grader has 10 additional minutes and my 4th grader has 15.

Often we play a few games of yatzee - and some other games we have modified. My 2nd grader loves trouble so we play "double trouble" and in addition to the regular game play my 7yo has to add the die and my 9yo has to multiply the die before making the move. We have modified many other games in this way to help with math facts.

Ok - off to check the link from tobysfriend - thanks I like to stay informed!

TJ

 

[Buckalew11]

Thankfully, DD is not learning "everyday math". She is doing great in Math and they have class and work everyday.

But, my sister's kids do have "everyday math." Ugh! This has been a very trying thing for my sister because according to the teachers at that elementary school, the kids are all doing great in Math. However, they don't know how to times and they just don't know basic math facts but are moving ahead to concepts in Algebra! Without a good basic background!

Oldest DD went on to the Intermediate school in 5th grade and struggled with Math and had to play "catch up" because other schools in the city system don't do "everyday math". As a sophomore, she has caught back up but it has been a long haul for that child.
Talk about "slipping through the cracks..."

 

[missyc]

Originally posted by tjmw2727

If I understand your post correctly your 6th grade son's teacher has backed them up to everyday math starting at 3rd? If this is the case then I can see he would be introduced to concepts he may not have seen before - usually taught at later grades. That said the program is set up to help children succeed and I don't understand him failing. They introduce lots of different concepts in each lesson but in a way that the child can master one step at a time. If a 6th grader isn't easily mastering the 3rd grade SRB then I would have to assume he isn't being given proper instruction. Perhaps the teacher is trying the program without having had instruction? - just a thought.
TJ

Ok, DS11 WAS using everyday math in elementary school. Big problem (probably more so than the actual program used) was that they just skipped math class regularly. For example, there was about a 2 month period where they didn't have math class due to other activities (like the 5th grade play/practices).
NOW he is in a different district for middle school by my choice. I don't think they would be using Everday Math in 6th grade would they? I think I read that it is only elementary grades. Anyways, due to his low FCAT scores in math last year, the new school offers a remedial math class in addition to the regular math class. The remediation teacher started the entire class at 3rd grade level to get the basics mastered as/before they move ahead. This is the class that he is now failing. However, the regular 6th grade math class is the one that he has an A in. Hmmmmmmmm Not sure how this is possible. I've already called 3 times trying to get a conference with his team (all of his teachers at 1 conference). We'll see what they have to say about it. I just hate to see it starting now with DD9. She has always had it easy in school. She taught herself how to read in kindergarten. Up until now, everything has always come so easily for her. She has all A+'s, except in math where she got a D. I want to "fix it" before she ends up where DS is.

Thanks for the links, I'm gonna check those out now.

 

[Gupsmom]

She will never have a "page of additon" for example

Our school uses everyday math. Our teachers supplement this program with some rote memorization. By the end of 1st grade my son could do 70 addition facts (up to 9+9) in 3 minutes. By the end of second he should be able to do 100 addition facts in 5 minutes (he's close to that now)....and some set # of subtraction facts. I'm not sure what else because we're still early on in the year.

Homework is usually the math links sheet but it is occassionally supplemented with a page of addition and subtraction problems. I like the balance. They teach the kids to think about math and learn the skills for algebra but not at the expence of knowing their basic math facts.

Jess

 

[mudnuri]

I cant believe all these schools don't have math everyday!

Maybe the problem isnt the math program they are using, its the lack of instructional time for math?

Our school uses everyday math. Our teachers supplement this program with some rote memorization. By the end of 1st grade my son could do 70 addition facts (up to 9+9) in 3 minutes. By the end of second he should be able to do 100 addition facts in 5 minutes (he's close to that now)....and some set # of subtraction facts. I'm not sure what else because we're still early on in the year.

Exactly the same here..

Homework is usually the math links sheet but it is occassionally supplemented with a page of addition and subtraction problems. I like the balance. They teach the kids to think about math and learn the skills for algebra but not at the expence of knowing their basic math facts

Again, same here. My 2nd grader has a math homework folder that comes home on Mondays and is due on Friday's. In it is usually 4-6 math sheets, along with a number grid to use, and a home link. She has math everyday in school, and some nights has "extra credit" math homework- that according to her, "everyone does"...

3rd grader has math everyday, 1 hour 45 minutes of it, and again, has math homework every night. Usually 2 sheets per night. And is accompanied by a homelink to explain to the parents how they are doing what they're doing.

I still think part of the problem with some of the posters situation is the lack of math instruction in the schools. Regardless of what program they use, 1-2 times a week- or none for 2 months isn't going to teach anyone anything

Brandy

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by Gupsmom
Our school uses everyday math. Our teachers supplement this program with some rote memorization. By the end of 1st grade my son could do 70 addition facts (up to 9+9) in 3 minutes. By the end of second he should be able to do 100 addition facts in 5 minutes (he's close to that now)....and some set # of subtraction facts. I'm not sure what else because we're still early on in the year.

Homework is usually the math links sheet but it is occassionally supplemented with a page of addition and subtraction problems. I like the balance. They teach the kids to think about math and learn the skills for algebra but not at the expence of knowing their basic math facts.

Jess

OOps my mistake - I meant to say that they won't have a "page of addition" in everyday math. However, as I mentioned our teachers also suppliment with traditional math facts as well. My girls also have to take and pass the timed drills, addition in 2nd, addition and subtraction mixed in 3rd and now multiplication in 4th. These are not however part of everyday math - as I was trying to explain!! Sorry for the confusion.

Both dd's have math every day in class as well evening practice of at least 10 minutes in addition to any homework. They have to fill in a chart each week with how long and what they did to practice at night.

We also just found out that they are expanding our EDM program to middle school as the kids in elementary now have been using it since 1st. I hope the teachers continue to suppliment and if they don't dh and I certainly will.

To the OP - it sounds like your first course of action is to get that teacher meeting. Even if you have to start with the math teacher(s?) before you get to the entire team I imagine that will be a great start.

TJ

 

[Toby'sFriend]

very true. The best year my middle son had with the Everyday Math program was with an experienced 3rd Grade teacher who saw the problems with it. She gave timed daily Math Fact quizzes, awarded prizes for everyone who completed them - and really stressed basic computation. She pretty much did all this against the wishes of the School District. A good portion of her Math curriculum was photocopied sheets that she made herself from copies of her older Math textbooks.

The Homelinks never came home. Privately she told me that she felt Everyday Math was a nice supplemental program, but she would never feel comfortable passing her kids along using only that program. I do remember some nice Math manipulatives from the program that the kids loved to play with. I will say that my son learned more Geometry in 2nd and 3rd grade than I ever did.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Originally posted by powellrj
DS is 21 and still doesn't know what 9x9 is. It was big on estimation. .

im 20 and i have a huge problem with math..i use my calculator for EVERYTHING

 

[padams]

DSs' school uses Everyday Math through the 3rd grade. I was one of the people who posted that I don't like the program on the previous thread.

Brandy-The reason that parents don't like EM is not that they don't like change. I (and many other parents at our school) think that the homelink assignments are trivial and too simple for the grade level. Our 1st grader's homelinks assignments have included so far this year tasks such as find examples of numbers in your home, find prices under $1 in the newspaper, count how many clocks are in your home, etc. I could see finding numbers if it were a preschool class of 2 and 3 year olds, but 1st grade? DS can tell time, and he's counting clocks!?

Another parent complaint at our school is that there is no textbook. The children are taught several different methods for adding, multiplying, etc. Some of these methods are different than what we parents were taught as children. Parents are not able to assist their children in understanding these methods because there is no textbook with examples to use as a reference. You have to hope your child understands the concept from the classroom explanation enough to explain it to you (and if he can, he probably doesn't need your help).

Our school dropped EM for grades 4-6 this year because parents of former students, who had been top math students at our school, were complaining that their kids were struggling in junior high honors classes. The school has returned to a traditional Holt textbook for those grades.

I think EM has been an educational fad, much like "whole language" or "literary based reading" was popular a few years back. I hope the EM fad fades soon.

DS' 3rd grade teacher asked the chidlren to spend 3 minutes a night on math facts to supplement the EM homelinks. She gave us this weblink for practicing math facts: http://home.indy.rr.com/lrobinson/mathfacts/mathfacts.html