Info on these ps math programs?

[Cadam]

has anyone heard of this or know much about them. All I seem to be able to find are promotional type sites saying how great it is but I would love to hear from someone objective or who had actually used/ seen it used in a classroom. these are the math books our ps system uses.

Bridges in Mathematics and Investigations in Mathematics.

[Myrtle]

Two online resources for you:

First is an awesome blog (more like a message board since it's so busy) in which public school math programs and parental involvement in math is discussed. I bet an advanced search through google for keywords at this site would yield some interesting conversations. Kitchen Table Math (http://kitchentablemath.blogspot.com/)

Secondly, I'd go to the NYCHold website (http://www.nychold.com/)and email the mathematicians and teachers who list their emails and directly ask them. One of the programs you'll be able to find plenty of detailed criticism about but the other will take more digging.

I recommend asking these folks directly because they will be able to give you long detailed and specific lists of issues (for example, program x does not teach multiplication algorithm until grade 16.) since they speak to the public and write articles for national newspapers about these issues. Sometimes getting an "it didn't work for us" response just isn't quite enough information and they'll have links and files at their fingertips which they can send you.

[Cadam]

Thank you! I found out that my school district is using Investigations in mathematics, bridges in mathematics and connected math. After searching the links you gave me I found all I need to reassure myself I don't want my kids there. Yikes! :eek:

[EKS]

If you're talking about TERC Investigations in Data, Number, and Space, I do know something about that.

Our district uses this. I have actually compared the fourth grade TERC books against Saxon 5/4 and Singapore 4AB. The TERC program is a joke. For example, I compared how the three programs treated multidigit multiplication. Saxon had something like 100+ practice problems, Singapore had fewer, but a substantial number, and TERC had I think, 5. TERC does not teach long division. The fractions work was just about getting a feel for fractions. Oh, and one of the homework questions was "What did you like best about math class today."

This is a huge reason why my kids don't attend the public schools here.

[EvergreenEclecticAcademy]

...when our oldest dd was in public school for 1st grade. Some of her math homework assignments included creating a table with each family member listed, along with his/her age (*not* one of my personal faves, LOL); and tracing around each family member's foot to compare lengths.

While I'm all for making math *fun*...cuz I do LOOOOOVE math...things that were sorely missing from her 1st grade math education were learning addition/subtraction facts and just plain ol' working problems. TERC Investigations tends to focus on letting the child "discover" math & kind of "create" how they solve problems. Great when you already know the basics, not so great when you don't. :(

Stepping off my soap-box now...

HTH!

[PamInMN]

I don't have any personal experience with those programs..... but Investigations is being used in our ps system here..... the parents and the teachers, for the most part, are not happy.


Check out this youtube video.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1qee-bTZI