The school board in the district in which I teach recently voted to switch from the traditional algebra/geometry/algebra track to integrated math. Additionally, we're going to forbid middle school students from accelerating more than one grade level. Since "integrated 1" would be the regular 9th grade course, at best 9th graders would be prepared to take "integrated 2".
Last year I taught 2 pre-calculus courses, and I teach 2 this year. In those four classes I've had three freshmen, and all of them earned (or are earning) A's and A+'s. Under our new district policy those students would be languishing in math classes that are entirely too easy for them. I can hardly imagine anything worse we could do that could also be cloaked in the mantle of "education".
Don't go there. Teach Algebra II instead of Integrated and call it Integrated. Figure out what additional topics (if any) Integrated Math touches on, and throw a few lessons in on the side.
ReplyDeleteThe nail that sticks up must be hammered down.
ReplyDeleteBeen fighting it here for two years. It's a "common floor" and it's designed to hold advanced students back in order to lift all kids to grade level. At my school we have two levels past AP Calc BC, and we have some freshmen and sophomores who are achieving there. Some "forces" tried to relegate all freshman to Alg I and eliminate Algebra and Geometry from middle schools. Fortunately, our community stood up and fought back.
ReplyDeleteIt is a Race-to-the-Middle, and it must be challenged everywhere it rears its socialist head.
I don't see how holding some kids down lifts all kids to grade level. Then again, I'm not a class warfare kinda guy.
ReplyDeleteWhile we keep expanding our daycare programs for the profoundly special needs kids (who will never work or pay taxes) we continue to cut G/T programs right and left. When we convert to our new block lunch next term, I am offering a session called "Lunch with TED" which my kids who were in G/T five years ago asked me to begin. They get nothing from the current curriculum and simply get thrown into AP classes where they coast as special demographic groups get all the attention. It's wrong. The way special ed gobbles up the budget is criminal. This is the legacy of legislation from the bench.
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