Wednesday, January 18, 2006

http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/summer2002/curriculum.pdf
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4 comments:

Barry Garelick said...

This article has been around a while but is still as true as the day it was published. AIR did a study a little over a year ago comparing Singapore's math program with the US and came to some of the same conclusions: US curriculum for math being mile wide and an inch deep, topics repeated over and over with little added, while in Singapore, students are taught a particular concept or skill to mastery before moving on.

These reports are repeatedly dismissed by those in ed schools and organizations like NCTM by saying that it's the culture more than the curriculum and texts. They point to parents in Asian countries educating their kids at home in addition to school and paying for tutors, having education on a high pedestal, etc. But in most middle class communities in the US don't we do the same thing? Why are places like Sylvan, Kumon and Hungtington thriving? The customers at those places aren't just Asians. And many parents are simply shocked at the poor quality of math texts and education in the schools. In my case, I am teaching my daughter math from the Singapore books, and helping her navigate around the idiocy of her school's math program. I know I'm not alone.

Thursday, January 19, 2006 5:21:00 AM
Anonymous said...

How do you find the Singapore books? Where do you purchase them?

I am very interested in seeing what they teach, and using it for homeschooling.

Thursday, January 19, 2006 8:55:00 PM
Instructivist said...

Anon,
You can get them here: http://www.singaporemath.com/primary_math_US_ED.htm#primary%20mathematics%20Order

They are great and inexpensive. Good things need not cost much.

Thursday, January 19, 2006 9:23:00 PM
Anonymous said...

Thank you so very very much!

Friday, January 20, 2006 8:53:00 PM

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