INDEX TO THE COMMENTS
(Number of comments appear in parentheses)
OFFER AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF CHALLENGE
Offer more challenge and a faster pace for students who need it (73)
Offer a slower pace for students who need it (43)
Set higher expectations for all students (26)
Continue to make sure children are challenged, but not overloaded (13)
Give more time and emphasis to math (37)
Create a "math initiative" similar to reading initiative (20)
Ambivalent, mixed opinion, unclear (14)
GROUP STUDENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS
Group by ability for acceleration and remediation (16)
Group by ability for acceleration (29)
Group by ability (30)
Group by ability across classes (19)
Group by ability earlier in elementary school (11)
Group by ability in middle school (7)
Neutral or ambivalent about ability grouping (9)
Group students appropriately (46)
Group students appropriately based on accurate assessments (20)
Group students appropriately by ability, neither too high nor too low (10)
Group average students appropriately (5)
Regroup by ability during the school year (11)
Communicate better with parents about grouping by ability (14)
ORGANIZE THE CURRICULUM TO DEVELOP MASTERY OF MATH SKILLS, RATHER THAN JUMPING FROM TOPIC TO TOPIC
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)
EXPLAIN CONCEPTS IN CLASS, USE TEXTBOOKS, ASSIGN MORE AND BETTER HOMEWORK, GIVE MORE TIME AND EMPHASIS TO MATH
Explain concepts in class rather than rely on students and parents to figure things out (61)
Use textbooks rather than worksheets (51)
The Singapore Math textbooks show promise, but the pilot has been difficult (18)
Pleased with Singapore Math (5)
More parent information on Singapore Math (4)
Difficulties with Singapore Math (9)
Provide clearer instructions on homework (28)
Assign more challenging homework for students who need it (31)
Don't assign more homework (8)
Provide more teacher feedback on homework and tests (16)
KEEP PARENTS INFORMED
Give parents more information (25)
Give parents more information about the curriculum (43)
Give parents more information on their child's progress and instructional level (23)
Give parents more information on how they can help (20)
GET BETTER MATH TEACHERS, AND SUPPORT THEM BETTER
Continue to hire excellent math teachers: (2)
Get better teachers of mathematics (84)
Get better math teachers in elementary schools (6)
Get better math teachers in middle schools (3)
Get better substitute math teachers (1)
Get better math teachers (81)
Provide math resource teacher to support teachers (2)
Provide more instructional aides (26)
Offer more individual attention (27)
Offer more one-on-one instruction (25)
Offer more after-school support (19)
HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU?
Inconsistency among teachers and schools (14)
JUDGMENTS ON THE SURVEY:
Grade Comment
6 I welcome this opportunity to give feedback. Thanks for taking the initiative in organizing this survey.
2 THANKS SO MUCH FOR ASKING!
6 My first suggestion is that parents be allowed to give inputs into the way in which instruction is provided. Too often the PTA is restricted to administrative and fund-raising issues. Parents should have a forum in which their instructional concerns are heard.
3 Why is the MCCPTA involved with this? This seems to me to be a county curriculum issue to be dealt with by educators. I think the PTSA needs to stay out of instruction & let the county advance given its research. I’m concerned parents are "pushing" curriculum so hard that the concepts aren’t having time to fully develop.
2 This is a poorly developed questionnaire. I don't see how you can create an improvement in the math curriculum based on these answers.