Thursday, September 20, 2012

Algebra 2/PreCalculus Investigation CCSSM

Hi All! Long time, no blog...

I've been spending most of my 'spare' time on Twitter and my Facebook Fan Page but I decided to share some of the activities I've developed with the few faithful readers who might still remember me! For those of you looking for richer problem-solving which conforms to the Mathematical Practices of the State Standards, here's one you might find useful. Please let me know how you adapt it for your students and how they responded. I hope to be writing more of these.

Note: If the image below is cut off, click on it and zoom in if needed.






















If interested in purchasing my NEW 2012 Math Challenge Problem/Quiz book, click on BUY NOW at top of right sidebar. 175 problems divided into 35 quizzes with answers at back. Suitable for SAT I, Math I/II Subject Tests, Math Contest practice and Daily/Weekly Problems of the Day. Includes multiple choice, case I/II/III type and constructed response items. Price is $9.95 and includes detailed solutions, strategies, tips, hints and key facts for the first 8 quizzes as well as answers for all quizzes Secured pdf will be emailed when purchase is verified. DON'T FORGET TO SEND ME AN EMAIL (dmarain "at gmail dot com") FIRST SO THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO SEND THE ATTACHMENT!

Monday, September 3, 2012

Almost-National Math Curriculum... Should I Feel Vindicated?


Excerpt from my local paper, The Record, 9-3-12

For the first time there is broad national consensus on the most necessary skills, so a third grader in Paramus and his camp buddy in Peoria will face roughly the same expectations when they walk back through the school doors this week.

"It's almost the entire country coming to an agreement about what kids should learn." Many parents in affluent suburbs might assume that widespread worries about weaknesses in the American education system relate to poverty and think their own kids' schools are doing just fine but this shift aims to raise the bar for everybody. Some studies for example conclude that even advantaged U.S. children with college educated parents can barely compete internationally in math.

How long have I waited to read these words?
How long have I been advocating this and supporting Prof. Wm. Schmidt's recommendations?
How many of my blog posts have been dedicated to this topic in the past 6 years?
How many of you supported me? Opposed me? Argued that this will never happen?

So do I feel vindicated?  I'll let my readers guess!




If interested in purchasing my NEW 2012 Math Challenge Problem/Quiz book, click on BUY NOW at top of right sidebar. 175 problems divided into 35 quizzes with answers at back. Suitable for SAT I, Math I/II Subject Tests, Math Contest practice and Daily/Weekly Problems of the Day. Includes multiple choice, case I/II/III type and constructed response items. Price is $9.95. Secured pdf will be emailed when purchase is verified. DON'T FORGET TO SEND ME AN EMAIL (dmarain "at gmail dot com") FIRST SO THAT I CAN SEND THE ATTACHMENT!