From: Susan (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: May 18, 1998 at 16:26:33
Subject: Re: 1st grade math curriculum

Wow! You've hit the nail on the head when it comes to what many experts say is 
the biggest weakness of our American Mathematics curriculum: A mile wide and an
inch deep. I can't give you any justification except to say that many people 
equate telling with teaching and exposure with mastery. I don't agree, and I 
can see that you don't either!

Perhaps you can convince your district that the concepts that your kids are 
learning by doing the race to ten game are "covering" lessons 8, 23, 37, 55, 
etc. and that you are compacting the curriculum with the intention of deepening 
their understanding of concepts. Show them! Do a pre- and post-test with all of 
the kids in your grade level, with the others being the control group and yours 
being the variable. Then, show then the hard data at the end of the year/
semester. Nothing convinces administrators like hard data! 

Good luck!

- Susan

Post a public discussion message
Ask Teacher2Teacher a new question