“You have to know math in order to teach math.” – Tim Sass, Calder 2012
Archive for the ‘Numeracy’ Category
Math Instruction, Teacher Preparation, and the Common Core State Standards
January 29th, 2012
No Comments
The Testing Shell Game
August 23rd, 2011
No Comments
By Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader The key to creating an illusion is to distract the viewer. Draw the attention away from the sleight of hand and the audience will believe they have seen magic. Apparently this technique is now a key element when dealing with the analysis of standardized test results. The plan appears [...]
From a Teacher’s Perspective: Test, Test, and then Test Some More
February 9th, 2011
No Comments
by Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader There are few lightning rods in the educational landscape of 2011 that rival the debate on the role of testing in the evaluation of student, teacher and school performance. However, another perspective on this topic was addressed in a recent Mel Riddile post which discussed research indicating that frequent [...]
A Principal Gamble
December 14th, 2010
No Comments
by Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader Recently the Washington Post ran an article featuring a high school sponsored poker club. The article appeared to support the idea that poker clubs were a legitimate way to help students learn mathematical concepts. Although using the structure of poker to create a lesson in probability is a valid [...]
PISA: What School Leaders Need To Know
December 9th, 2010
No Comments
I hesitate to address the sensitive topic of international comparisons with school leaders who have to face the reality of leading schools on a day-to-day basis. However, I wasn’t subjected to the kind of attacks on public schools, teachers, and principals that we have experienced of the past year. In the past, when NAEP or [...]
Algebra I for all 8th Graders: More Gasoline on the Fire
June 28th, 2010
No Comments
The Teacher Leader just threw more gasoline on the fire. Algebra for all students in grade 8 is a hot topic that will only get hotter. The recent studies that cite Algebra I success in eighth grade as a predictor of college success will only fan the flames of controversy pitting policy makers who want [...]
The Case Against Algebra I For Everyone: By the numbers
June 21st, 2010
1 Comment
by Stuart Singer, The Teacher Leader The quest for improving student performance in mathematics often appears to be something akin to a circular tug-of-war. If A does not work then try B. When B flames out it is on to C. And so it goes until the newest idea is something called A. There have [...]
