What should be done to improve our students' math skills?
Banning calculators is not a new idea. The debate has been going on for 30 years. The issue is not whether or not we use calculators
in the classroom - the real issue is about improving our students' math skills. Despite what my opponent may tell you, Sequim schools do not use calculators
in our classrooms to replace basic memorization of math facts.
Washington has looked at the best
performers nationally and internationally and determined that we're doing some things well and that some things need to change.
Click here to read the independent report on our state's math standards
Click here to read my feedback to the State Board as a part of this process
My opponent states that "About 1/2 our Sequim Highschoolers are failing the Math WASL test. This has not gotten better after 4 years of Sarah Bedinger."
In fact, the comparison of Sequim's 10th grade Math WASL scores from 2003-2007 shows that we are making progress and that our district scores still surpass the state average.
Click here to see that our scores have improved over the past four years
You should also know . . .
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Assessment scores are dependent on 5 variables, 2 of which we have local control:
1. State Standards - What should students know and be able to do? What is the state assessing?
2. Assessment Methods - Does the assessment accurately measure what students know and are able to do? How is the state assessing those things?
3. Curriculum - Is it aligned horizontally and vertically with state standards?
4. Professional Development - Is it focused on best teaching practices with emphasis on learning targets at each grade level? Is data used to inform instruction?
5. Students - All students learn differently and at different paces. All come with varied strengths and weaknesses. Public schools serve all students.
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This is what I believe:
Local school districts need to take control of the two variables that we can control - we need to ensure that our curriculum is aligned with the state standards and that we have focused professional development to improve student learning.
Over the last four years in Sequim's schools, we've done both.
At the state level, the Washington State Board of Education needs to continue its work to revise our state's standards and, in my opinion, its assessment methods. Our current standards are too wide, too
shallow, and too vague. We need to move away from "spiraling" - touching minimally on many areas year after year - and towards depth and development of basic mathematics
in the early grades. The standards for elementary students need to be specific, measurable and define basic mathematical concepts so that mastery in the elementary
grades can lead to extension in the higher grades. In addition, it is my opinion that the way mathematics is assessed is a concern. When a student takes
the writing WASL, they write to show their understanding and skill. When a student takes the math WASL, they write to show their understanding and skill. We need to
move away from the vagueness of "explain how you understand" and move toward the concrete goal of "show your computational skills." Mathematics standards in Washington need to go back to the basics so that students can obtain mastery of basic mathematical skills.
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What about banning calculators?
I believe that calculators should never be used as a substitute for learning basic mathematical concepts. I believe that mastery of basic mathematical skills
in the elementary grades is crucial to success in mathematics in later grades. I also believe that the use of calculators, once mastery has occurred, can be
beneficial to student learning. The issue is not should students use calculators in the classroom but how calculators should be used. To read more about calculator use in schools, please see the following links:
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Impact of Calculators in Elementary School Mathematics
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Educators Battle Over Calculator Use
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Using Calculators in Elementary School
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Initial Effect of Calculators in Elementary School Mathematics
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The Technology Principle
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The Research - Calculators in School
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Usage of Computers and Calculators and Students' Achievement
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