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Emphasize mastery of math facts and computational skills (175)
Emphasize mastery of basic skills before going on to harder skills (27)
Emphasize mastery of basic math facts: (76)
Reduce calculator dependency (6)
Emphasize mastery of computational skills (66)
Don't emphasize mastery of computational skills (5)
Stop hopscotching from one topic to another (59)
Emphasize reasoning and problem-solving (38)
Emphasize interesting, fun, hands-on activities and manipulatives (59)
Emphasize real-world applications (26)
Emphasize connections between math and other subjects (7)
Look into Investigations in Mathematics and other middle school issues (27)
Emphasize reading and writing in math, especially for MSPAP (9)
De-emphasize reading and writing in math, especially for MSPAP (17)
Prepare students better for tests (14)
Preserve ISM's ability to assess math skills for grouping and instruction, but create a more focused set of objectives and assessments (e.g., like those in the revised middle school curriculum) (24)
MIscellaneous Curriculum Issues (36)
Encourage girls to excel in math (5)
Look into these additional math topics (13)
Look into these additional issues (11)
Figure out what teaching method works best, and stick with it (7)
ORGANIZE THE CURRICULUM TO DEVELOP MASTERY OF MATH SKILLS, RATHER THAN JUMPING FROM TOPIC TO TOPIC
Emphasize mastery of math facts and computational skills:
Emphasize mastery of basic skills before going on to harder skills:
2 Focus on basic skills, make sure they are firmly established before moving on to new/harder skills
5 Teach the children the basics of math first (+,-,x,/) before asking them to learn harder concepts. The way math is taught is counterproductive. If the children do not know the basics you are setting them up to fail in future math classes!
3 Verification that kids know the basics from previous years at beginning of year.
6 Do not promote children to the next grade level who cannot perform at their current level.
10 Teach facts and fundamentals in elem school.
8 Better preparation in earlier grades
6 If educators expect children to read and do math [illegible] at the current grade level, they should be brought to speed before entering secondary schools!
4 Greater attention to child's understanding of concepts & fundamentals
3 More drilling & more concepts leading to algebra
5 The basic mathematical principles are not focused on enough at the early ages. Too little time is spent on drilling addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Students are being moved on to new topics without making sure that the basics are mastered.
I believe that this causes the gap in ability between the children to become wider. Many parents don't spend the time to help with homework, because they are busy working. The children who get help from their parents are able to keep up with the introduction of new material at the faster pace. The children receiving no parental support just get further behind.
5 Spend a lot more time on basic computation and concepts. Example: 3 weeks on fractions is not enough time to fully comprehend or understand this domain.
2 Introduction to multiplication in 2nd grade
5 Learning basic facts & concepts throughout elementary school
7 Students to learn the basic concepts that is the basis of the mathematical principle or concepts being taught
2 Currently, no text is used in either my fourth grader or second grader's class. I have noticed, especially in the third and fourth grades, that the curriculum tends to be somewhat choppy in that the teachers jump around from subject to subject and there is not always a natural flow between subjects. Also, there is too much skimming over important core subjects. For instance, last year, in my older son's class (3rd grade), the multiplication unit was "passed over" in about a week. It was left up to the parents, more or less, to drill the times tables with the children. I felt that the manner in which multiplication was taught was unacceptable. I have even heard from parents of middle school students who still have not absorbed the multiplication tables!!! What's going on?!! There is too much push to teach these kids higher level math that we adults never learned at their ages at the expense of basic and critical math skills.
2 Q11: I believe too little time is spent on teaching basic concepts.
3 Developing "number sense" at early grades
2 Less emphasis on CRTs & MSPAPs and MORE TIME SPENT ON TEACHING BASIC MATH CONCEPTS TO GIVE A SOLID FOUNDATION
3 Teaching the basics solidly
5 Q7: More reinforcements of basic facts & theories
Q14: More reinforcement and time devoted to basics. The path to completing calculus by high school should be the goal of every student in general education, not just Gifted & Talented. Also, the path to this goal should be laid out in the elementary school years and explicitly stated to each child & parent starting middle school. Also, parents should be informed that current High School policy (as I understand it) is that students are not permitted to take algebra & geometry concurrently in grade 9. If a child doesn't take Algebra I in grade 8, the goal of calculus by grade 12 is out of reach.
4 Q7: Less advanced. Or with clearer instruction
I think the children are advanced before they are clear on basic math facts and they aren't gaining the knowledge needed to succeed and fully grasp what is expected of them.
8 The basics in elementary school
7 More intensive instruction in the basics
2 More emphasis on fundamentals
6 Q11: Yes. Although not sure she has good grounding in fundamentals
7 Q11: No. Needs more instruction in fundamentals.
Q14: More emphasis on math fundamentals
6 Basic skills assessment (multiplication) & suggested ways to improve basic skills
Emphasize mastery of basic math facts:
2 I'm glad basic facts are being stressed more.
3 There needs to be a greater emphasis on basic math facts. The county provides only a weak foundation in basic math skills. There is little if any review of concepts throughout the year, unless it's CRT or MSPAP preparation. Without a strong foundation in basic math, kids cannot learn the more theoretical applications required.
4 Make sure kids learn basic facts as soon as possible.
4 Move mastery of basic addition and subtraction facts for first and second grade
5 Learning times tables in 2nd & 3rd grades. Student never brought any math papers home in 3rd grade. I did not feel she was very good in math at that time, but she received B's. But in 4th grade, math became more difficult. Need more adding, subtracting, multiplication, & division, before they move on to other areas of math.
5 I think basic math facts should be drilled into them by 3rd grade. If they don't have them, don't pacify/mislead parents with "Oh, it'll come." That is a real disservice to student and parent.
2 Learning the multiplication chart without being given the ability to use a calculator. They must learn their multiplication chart before being expected to learn more difficult concepts.
4 Do rote memorization drills for addition & multiplication in school, because many parents don't teach it at home and those kids get behind. Keep testing them on math facts all year long even if the unit is over so they know they're expected to learn it & parents realize it is expected. Some kids take longer than others to master a skill. If the unit ends & a new subject begins without mastery, it's incomplete learning & the next year they will be still stuck on that unit & wasting time. I'd like to see a subject taken from beginning to end before moving on --say multiplication facts mastered, then 1 digit mult, then 2 digit then 3 digit with accuracy & speed. Versus a little this year, a little that year. In 5th grade our school did double period math because the kids didn't know their basic facts. They shouldn't be allowed to get to 5th grade & then have to do double period to catch up. I am thankful that our school recognized the need for double period math. It helped my child. Also - stress all the math vocabulary in math class, so they won't have to spend other class time studying math vocabulary for the MSPAP & other standardized tests. Thank you!
3 Spend more time making sure students learn basic math facts, especially multiplication tables. Get rid of fuzzy math and abstract teaching. Singapore Math would be a better teaching tool. Kids need to learn basics, before they go on to the next math concept.
3 Also, I think that kids in the end of 2nd grade should be given a note telling parents that their children should memorize math facts before 3rd grade (addition, multiplication, and division). They should know these facts and many of them do not.
1 At the lower levels it seems fine though I think most 1st graders can learn all their addition & subtraction facts in 1st grade.
3 More math drills i.e. multiplication recitation as a class, etc.
4 Some type of separate drilling on addition/subtraction/multiplication tables
5 I am concerned with the lack of basics. My child still is not facile with times tables and often seems to have no understanding of the "why" behind the answer.
4 More instruction on basic math facts
1 Basic facts need to be stressed. Curriculum does well to address problem solving but very weak on basic addition/subtraction
3 Facts are never stressed. -- Parent Responsibility
3 Learning basics (tables, etc.) by heart to assist on speeding up other areas
3 Basic math fact reviews and textbooks in lower grades
2 Q11: Not enough work on basic facts
1 More drilling on basic facts
1 Learning tables to assist speed in other areas!
6 More time needs to be spent on drilling basic facts, like times tables.
5 Q11: No. Definitely not!!!
Q14: A much better start with better knowledge in math facts. A stronger base! We are very unhappy with the progress our son has made this far.
4 I believe that more emphasis is needed on basic facts, with more requirements & stricter requirements so that kids get those basic facts down cold. The mad minute which is often done has no consequences if performance is below par. We drill our child on basic facts & he is getting better, but I think the schools should be doing more.
4 Learn basic facts
More consistent homework or review. I.e. instead of D.O.L. (daily Oral Language) everyday, how about D.O.M. (Daily Oral Math) several days/week?
5 Math facts! I wish my daughter had a stronger foundation in basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
3 I like the math facts practice. Perhaps this should be a weekly drill throughout the year (like spelling tests)
6 Back to basics - there has to be at least some memorizing in the early grades. My daughter know all the words to several CDs but still can't do all the multiplication tables without some difficulty!
1 Repetition i.e.: multiplication tables
1 Provide more repetition & rote exercises for those who need it;
8 Student should be challenged for day to day math problem frequently.
Should know multiplication table by heart at least up to 20s
4 Basic drilling of math facts. Less focus on passing MSPAP and focus on math facts. Less reliance on calculators -- kids don't know how to figure problems out without them (upper grades)
5 Spend more time drilling multiplication in 3rd grade so that students know some by memory (not just the concept). "Mad Minute" is okay, but not done often enough.
3 Continuation of mad minute throughout the year to get the drills down cold.
3 I don't feel that kids are learning a good "math base" that will help them in the future -- i.e., drilling multiplication tables. None of this is done in school.
3 Math basics -- facts early and often
3 More math drills i.e. multiplication recitation as a class, etc.
2 More rigor in basic math. Math drills
3 They need to learn and grasp their basics before they move on. For e.g. how can you teach division and multiplication unless they know their times tables. My son counts on his fingers -- that is not the way to figure out the answer.
3 I believe the curriculum and instruction should be more sequential and include reinforcement. All students should memorize basic math facts. Parents should know that the school does not "have time" to teach basic facts [illegible] teach multiplication before division!
4 Memorization of basic tables needs to be emphasized more in early grades with parental help at home and tests. Learning is delayed due to so many kids not memorizing basic tables.
3 I believe children still need to memorize times tables before starting division. It makes the concept easier. I think there is too much review for the MSPAP, it is boring and therefore nonfunctional.
2 They are doing a great job. Possibly more flash cards for math facts!
4 More fundamentals and basics starting from the early grades.
3 Time table & division
4 Drill, knowledge of FACTS
3 Go back to the old math. I.e.: memorization of times tables
5 Work on math facts earlier. More repetition.
4 Focus on fundamentals/basic facts.
5 Have the students memorize basic facts. They need to learn the multiplication tables.
10 Stress mastery of basic facts in early elementary school. My child is in high school and still doesn't know the multiplication tables! Emphasize mastery of crucial math skills, before children move to the next level of math instruction.
5 More basic drills to ensure mastery of fundamentals
3 More structured drilling in basic math skills/mastery of basics!
4 Mastering basic facts -- multiplication & addition. Children move to division, fractions, word problems, geometry, Hands-On Equations, etc. but they have not mastered basic facts. Spend time drilling basic facts.
1 Need a lot of drill & rote memorization, especially with multiplication tables, etc. It worked for our generation!
3 I feel the children need to spend time memorizing their math tables. I feel there isn't enough emphasis given on this matter.
5 More practice of basic skills such as math facts, multiplication, division. Less focus on passing ISM objectives and more practice of rote operations.
2 Earlier math facts: multiplication & division fluency by end of 2nd grade for those who can do it.
4 More drilling of basic facts.
3 Speeding up when multiplic tables/subtraction are learned and mastered
5 I think some of the rote memorization of multiplication & division tables should be given more class time, even if it is boring.
2 Memorization & repetition of basic skills. (The old-fashioned way)
4 Perhaps more drill on basic concepts. In general, the instruction is excellent
3 More basics & drills in class? Seems unsure of basics.
8 Emphasis on drilling and fundamentals
3 More emphasis on basics & repetition. Not enough time spent on mastering the fundamentals, i.e. multiplication tables, etc.
3 I think more time should be spent memorizing multiplication tables
4 Teaching the children NOT the testing. Concentrate on areas that are unclear to the class and on basics before moving on (i.e., upper number multiplication table)
11 Teach the multiplication tables in elementary school!! My child still does not know them, despite her advanced math skills. The time she takes for computation on a test often hinders her ability to finish a timed test in the allotted time period.
4 They need to spend more than 45 min. on math a day -- more drilling in the basics
2 Drilling of subtraction & addition
6 More drills and exercises
3 Drilling on a daily basis.
3 Increase drills, computation problems in early grades
4 Feel it is important for rote learning. They need continual practice
Reduce calculator dependency:
5 The use/dependency on calculators needs to be reduced.
The curriculum is leaving too much space for confusion in the future. It all starts in elementary school.
4 Teachers need to be sure that the student (especially younger students in elementary school) understand the basic concepts and how to work the problems. Calculators definitely should not be used in elementary school math classes. The children in elementary school today need to work their brain, not some machine or instrument.
4 More of the basics given and less use of calculators
3 No calculators in schools, students need to think for them selves when doing math
1 Reinforce basics
Provide clear, consistent direction on calculator use
8 Hands on. Less stress on calculators.