Must a teacher be a "math person"? - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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When Teachers Teach Teaching

Submitted by K. Baker, Dec 14, 2006 16:52

Mr. Ferguson states that "fuzzy math"has become popular in part because it is "easier to teach." As an elementary school teacher and informal math coach within my district, I disagree. I am familiar with both SF/AW Investigations (grades K-6)/Connected Mathematics2 (grades 6-8) and Chicago Everyday Math, two leading "fuzzy math" publications. Teacher feedback has been that these materials are more difficult to teach, because the teacher must truly understand the material in order to guide the lessons. Some teachers find it easier and, sadly, preferable to use a drill-and-kill approach, where there is one right way and one right answer. Faced with evaluating student performance in solving complex problems, such teachers hesitate and then assign workbook pages instead, because there is an answer key provided. After all, "I'm not a math person." Then they complain that the students cannot interpret remainders, or relate division of fractions to any possible context. In this context, the NCTM standards can seem like a lengthy laundry list, lacking structure or unity. The NCTM Curriculum Focal Points have been issued not as a back-to-basics retreat, but to provide context and direction for those teachers who do not see the patterns and connections that exist throughout the content of mathematical instruction. Teachers need to be prepared with content mastery, through and beyond the level at which they instruct. Real life does not come with an answer key.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Would you ask a Pilot to teach and guide your Dr? Or vice versa? Who are the teachers of mathmatics?... [MORE]	koby Gutterman	Dec 18, 2006 18:51
As long as the "Mathematically Correct" community and authors such as Andrew Ferguson keep the ignoramous name calling and idiotic... [MORE]	Steve	Dec 18, 2006 10:50
Very well written. Good presentation of the facts. Thanks. [MORE]	B. Hammerand	Dec 16, 2006 07:50
I find it sad that criticism of the American educational system is rampant (based upon standardized test scores I... [MORE]	Dori Billows, PhD	Dec 15, 2006 11:44
Both the New York Times and Andrew Ferguson haven't gotten it wrong. They pulled a quick and easy conclusion from... [MORE]	John Tapper	Dec 15, 2006 11:23
Although you make a good argument concerning the lack of preparation of teachers, your knowledge of math curricula is much... [MORE]	Steve	Dec 15, 2006 10:53
There is a huge gap in the learning about teaching and the actual practise of teaching diverse populations at differeing... [MORE]	Rose Snyder	Dec 15, 2006 09:14
The standards are definitely too low in teacher education programs. As well, in many places, the emphasis is on research,... [MORE]	Laird Bracken	Dec 15, 2006 09:03
Here Andrew Ferguson passes along more ignorant gossip about mathematics teaching and learning. The NCTM publications Agenda for Action in... [MORE]	Finlay McQuade	Dec 15, 2006 02:09
Two Gates Foundation reports essentially corroborate this opinion piece. "Rigor, Relevance, and Results: The Quality of Teacher Assignments and Student... [MORE]	Kris Alman	Dec 14, 2006 21:31
..."By the time they reach eighth-grade, American students trail their counterparts in most of the developed world" One must ask,... [MORE]	K. Baker	Dec 14, 2006 21:27
Mr. Ferguson, As I read through your article, I realized how little "rubber on the road" you have in an... [MORE]	Cleo Burgett	Dec 14, 2006 20:43
Mr. Ferguson states that "fuzzy math"has become popular in part because it is "easier to teach." As an elementary school...	K. Baker	Dec 14, 2006 16:52
Either Mr. Ferguson didn't read the studies he purports to explain to us or his need to promote his limited... [MORE]	J. Michael Bodi	Dec 14, 2006 15:20
Mr. Ferguson asserts that today's math ("fuzzy math" or "reform math") is easier to teach than the more traditional, drill-and-memorize... [MORE]	Lana Stone	Dec 14, 2006 14:21
The largest department in USA community colleges (one-half the enrollment) is the Developmental/Reading/Writing/Math Department. This level of instruction is for... [MORE]	John Paul McDaniel	Dec 13, 2006 12:31
As a former teacher of mathematics, a former teacher of teachers of mathematics, and a former school district administrator, I... [MORE]	Tonya Urbatsch	Dec 14, 2006 19:34
The following is a huge answer to why students are not ready for college. They have been taught very little... [MORE]	Danaher Dempsey	Dec 15, 2006 09:41
When I took my GRE (ages ago) and went to the college office to receive my results, the secretary remarrked... [MORE]	Augusta Bartlett	Dec 15, 2006 10:43
There are many reasons why US students start lagging behind other countries in math starting about in the 8th grade...the... [MORE]	Michelle Bergey	Dec 16, 2006 10:51
I received a teaching degree in 1971. I very much wanted to teach history because of all the wonderful high... [MORE]	Barb	Dec 17, 2006 16:17
1. We have to stop educating everyone homogenously in this country and become comfortable again with the idea that we... [MORE]	Denise	Jan 14, 2007 22:18

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