Reviews of CMP2 by mathematicians have been highly critical. McDermott has finished a wonderful video about CMP2.click on it to see her analysis. One of the assignments is to choose a "favorite" number and write an essay about it. You would be hard pressed to find much math in it, with pages of prose and more writing assignments than expected in a math book. Let's consider the Middle School math textbook series used in most Seattle Schools: CMP2. The State Board of Education found that Seattle's high school math series was "mathematically unsound." These books don't teach many essential mathematical skills (like the use of fractions, long division, geometric proofs, to name only a few) and are NOT recommended by Washington State's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Specifically, Seattle used Everyday Math in elementary schools, Connected Math Project (CMP2) for middle schools, Discovering Math Curricula that minimize the development of basic skills and rarely bring kids to mastery of essential topics. Seattle Public Schools is using deficient math curricula in all grades, books that use the discovery approach, which pushes group work, writing essays about math, heavyĬalculator use, and spending inordinate time on extraneous topics (such asįractals and projections). This blog will review what is wrong and curriculum changes that could make a huge difference.Īs I have noted in past blogs (and I am hardly the only one saying this), Seattle has extremely poor math curricula at all levels. The Seattle Public Schools administration is making little progress in fixing the math problem fortunately, there are steps that could be taken quickly that would have major, positive impacts. Minority and economically disadvantaged students are not gaining ground in math.Īdults are failing Seattle's students and it doesn't have to be this way.Over one hundred Seattle students are not able to graduate high school because they could not pass state-mandated math exams.Nearly three quarters of Seattle Community College students require remediation in math.And they bring home math books that are nearly indecipherable to parents or other potential tutors. Parents see their kids unable to master basic math skills.There are so many signs that a profound problem exists in this city. Why? Most Seattle students are receiving an inferior math education using math books and curriculum that will virtually insure they never achieve mastery in key mathematical subjects and thus will be unable to participate in careers that requires mathematical skills. If I was a Seattle Public School parent, I would be getting angry now.
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