It's so weird to see the similarities across programs and across the country! My son's public school has a wonderful "cutsie" Math program, called "Trailblazers." It was filled with terrific stuff: praising that there is more than one way to solve a problem, encouraging children to verbalize their methods, critical thinking, not letting memorization of math facts be a gatekeeper to more advanced critical thinking... I could go on and on. Problem was that the teachers mainted that it couldn't be pretested, and that the whole class couldn't stick together. So, while DS10 got some valuable skills in verbalizing this thoughts, which he really needed, he never got to experience Math on a level that was appropriate. I did ask around and go some ideas for how the children could be pre-assesed, but the teacher and school system weren't willing. They felt that since DS10 ability to verbalize his math thinking was only at grade level he would miss important learning opportunities by going to a level where the math was challenging and interesting. My view was that as long as he stayed with Math Content that he was so far ahead of, he wouldn't be able to get the benifits of the program. This program is for learning math and using verbal skill to help one learn - if the math is already mastered, there isn't much grist for the mill.
I'm not kidding that I really like the Math Program, I even reccomended it to a Homeschooling Mom for her 5 year old PG daughter. I am just so frustrated with the people who were implimenting it.
Do you remember the classic Star Trek episode where Spock is rolling the tapes and there is a small buzzing noise, that turns out to be a whole world of aliens who are moving very quickly and can only be detected when Spock slows down the tape? That's how I feel sometimes. Talk about not being on the same page!
Love and More Love,
Trinity
