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Ridgewood K-5 Math Curriculum Study : “collaboration, the application of concepts, and an emphasis on self-reflection”

richard
photo of Richard Feynman was an American theoretical physicist, known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics, and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics for which he proposed the parton model. For contributions to the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965 jointly with Julian Schwinger and Shin’ichirō Tomonaga.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  last nights BOIE meeting left many with a sinking feeling when it comes to math education in the district the K-5 Math Curriculum Study , “the focus of the district’s elementary math program, which stresses collaboration, the application of concepts, and an emphasis on self-reflection.”, but do they learn how to add and subtract ?


According to Jeannie O’Neill, supervisor of elementary education, presented the findings and recommendations of the K-5 Math Curriculum Study. Ms. O’Neill provided an overview of the research process, which is conducted in the first year of the study and includes an evaluation of current issues and trends, a comparison of methods to comparable surrounding school districts, an examination of popular math programs, and a review of surveys. She thanked the math curriculum team for their work during their year and the curriculum writing that will take place over the summer. Next, Ms.O’Neill explained the focus of the district’s elementary math program, which stresses collaboration, the application of concepts, and an emphasis on self-reflection. When presenting student data, she explained that each of our elementary schools scored at least 30 points above the state average, and district scores have remained consistent for the past three years. An analysis of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) data for grades 3-5 during the years 2017-2019 indicates that our scores have risen in comparison to the state average. Ms.O’Neill described community perceptions of the program based on 553 parent/guardian responses to the survey, indicating that 84% of parents surveyed feel their child enjoys his or her math experience. She pointed out that attitudes toward math can affect overall achievement in math. Eighty-two percent of the teachers surveyed feel the current math program is effective, and they appreciate the opportunities for students to talk and write about their math knowledge. Ms. O’Neill presented recommendations for the program, which included flexible professional development opportunities for teachers, investigation of supplies and manipulatives for the classroom, increased parent communication, redesigned performance assessments, and a streamlined language component.

We have no mathematical experts on the blog staff but it has become readily obvious to us  the most people can not figure out 20% of the bill at a restaurant to leave a proper tip .

To view the presentation in PDF format, please click here.

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