+OK 2862 octets Received: from smtp0.nwnexus.com (smtp0.nwnexus.com [192.135.191.25]) by mail1.halcyon.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id BAA18944 for ; Fri, 29 Jan 1999 01:46:06 -0800 (PST) Received: from ripple.dundee.net (ripple.dundee.net [206.249.104.12]) by smtp0.nwnexus.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with SMTP id BAA28355 for ; Fri, 29 Jan 1999 01:45:57 -0800 (PST) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 20:30:4 Subject: [education-consumers] Houghton Mifflin's Math Central To: "ClearingHouse" From: ghoffman@bellatlantic.net Reply-To: ghoffman@bellatlantic.net Message-Id: Precedence: bulk Status: ===================================================================== Our superintendent told a newspaper reporter that our math scores improved on the Pennsylvania Assessment Test because of our new math program, "Houghton Mifflin's Math Central." He said the program focuses on geometry, statistics, and problem solving. This is a program for grades kindergarten through grade five. Shouldn't an elementary math program focus on the learning of the basic facts, fractions, decimals,measurement, etc.? Why would he make such a stupid comment? It is definitely a fuzzy program that encourages calculator usage beginning in the kindergarten. A teacher in a neighboring district told me yesterday that her district adopted the program five years ago and they are reviewing new books now for next year. She said the HM program was very weak and the children were not learning the basics. She is a fifth grade math teacher and has taught for 16 years. She told me she almost never used the book for class, but supplemented with other materials and books. This teacher's class of fifth graders scored the highest in the state on the math portion of the PA Assessment test. Gloria Hoffman ===================================================================== EDUCATION CONSUMERS CLEARINGHOUSE networking and information for parents and taxpayers on the internet Subscriptions & Archives: http://education-consumers.com or You are currently subscribed to education-consumers as: arthurhu@halcyon.com TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank email to leave-education-consumers-989462S@lists.dundee.net ===================================================================== For less mail, click on the following link and choose 1) a daily digest, 2) a daily list of subjects, or 3) no mail (read postings on Web) http://lists.dundee.net/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=education-consumers For more help & info: http://www.lyris.com/help or .