The first year my son started school I noticed a very odd thing about the way in which he was being taught math and I knew it would be difficult for him and most children to learn with the method the teachers were using.
As it turns out the NYC School System uses a so called advanced system of teaching mathematics known as Chicago Math.I say so called advanced because in my opinion there is nothing advanced about it.Rather, Chicago Math is a system of teaching children math in such a way that it is almost guaranteed to frustrate both parents, teachers and the poor students who are forced to endure it.
Here is what I saw with Chicago Math that worried me.One day my son was being taught multiplication, the next day he was being taught shapes and angles, and the day after that he was being taught weight and measurements.In case no one has picked up on the problem so far, I will explain it a little better.
How can a child grasp anything if it is given to him one day and taken away the next, only to be seen again weeks later in a more advanced form? Just as the children are learning to grasp one form of math, they are pulled off of it and given another.The children have no time to master one art form that they will need to fully understnd the next.You can’t do fractions, if you can’t yet multiply or divide properly.
Anyway, I tried to work with this system through the years, but now as my son is in the fifth grade and still doing poorly in math, I realize it is not working and I have to find something better for him and myself.I can honestly say my son hasn’t learned a thing in 5 years being taught the Chicago Math way.I have literally had to go back to school in order to learn how to teach him how to do math.Try re-learning things you haven’t done in over 20 years and see how easy it is.I find myself literally in tears at times, because so much is riding on me being able to teach him properly all the while still having to deal with the Chicago Math way of teaching him that is being used in school.
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Sidenote:
(This post was ritten at the spare of the moment while pulling out my hair and wishing death on the satan worshippers who created this curriculum)
Read one poor parent’s story -> Chicago Math Is Failing Our Children
6 Responses to “The New York City School System Is Trying To Kill Me”
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May 24th, 2006 at 11:01 am
Man, I totally feel you. Jobs and technology are becoming so advanced now that our children will damn near have to be geniuses just to keep up. Having to deal with such an incompetent curriculum will not make matters any easier. Now, I know you don’t have a lot of time, but here’s what i would do: I’d call a PTA meeting at the school and voice my concerns to the rest of the parents as well as the Adminiostration that is in attendance. Maybe you’re not the only parent at that school that is being frustrated with this poor curriculum. If this is the case, then strength in numbers will get the school to change it’s tune. I’d also work on getting mobilized with other PTA organizations at other schools because they might be experiencing the same thing. If that’s the case, the greater the number of parents that gets involved and voice their displeasure, the faster the school board will work to implement changes. And if they [the school board] are still isn’t budging, then start calling up the news outlets and get the media involved. No school board, no matter how stuffy they are, wants or needs bad publicity. You never know, you just might have a revolution on your hands. Let me know if you need any help, you know that I got you.
BTW, I got a new web address…..
May 24th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Hey Viper,I’ll update your link now
As for what you say above, you are correct.I should have taken action sooner.The few other parents I spoke to also disliked the curriculum, but they and even I thought it was something we just had to live with.I see now waiting so long to help my son was a mistake.His math skills are not where they should be and I am now working frantically to fix that.It’s so overwhelming because I don’t feel like I have his school to back me up.
May 24th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Saxon math is a great learning tool. It is really advanced and the way they tie all the concepts together will help your son catch up and learn new stuff.
May 24th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
Why are you trying to teach your son Chicago Math? When it comes to your son taking standardized tests i.e. SATs the method he learned to to solve math problems won’t be important-it’s whether or not he is able to quickly solve the problem. I’m a huge fan of homeschooling or private school but if you have to keep your son in public school then take the route Viperteq suggested.
May 25th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
I don’t use the Chicago Math system at home Shavonne, but if effects my ability to teach my son nonetheless.
Example: A few weeks ago my son’s class were doing fractions and I had him where he undertood adding and subtracting mixed fractions.I remember saying to his Dad that I was sure the next day or within the next few days they would switch up and be doing something else.Just as I had him learning fractions, the Chicago Math way said, now it’s time we move on to something new.
Just recently we were back again on fractions and I had to reteach, with great difficulty, what we had done before and were forced to move away before it was mastered, because now the subject had been changed and thus I too had to move on to that.I couldn’t keep Shane on fractions because they were now dealing with something else and I had to focus on that as well.
If you read the above link I posted another parent mentions this very thing.This jumping from subject to subject everyday or every other day is hindering children from mastering the various math forms.One teacher described it to me as “Getting a taste of everything, but not the full meal.”
At any rate, homeschooling is my best bet as Chicago Math is the law of the land in New York state.
May 27th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
@TryThis
I wanted to thank you for the link to Saxon Math.I will try it out