As a parent, I am so worried about my child basic math skills.  My child is in the 8th grade and I don’t know if any your school systems have adopted Connected Mathematics 2 but I am here to tell you it is the worse math book I have ever seen.  I have seen on some websites called "Fuzzy Math", "Whole Math", "New Math".  Not only does it not give instructions on how to do the problems, it introduce concepts with no prior review, and put the students in a situation to flounder around trying to figure out how to solve the problem.  What ever happened to basic math skills aka traditional math?

We are often hearing stories on the news claiming that American children are falling behind the world in math and science skills, and this could mean trouble for our economy in the future.  Here in Georgia we are ranking number 46 on SAT scores.  No wonder!  With Connected Mathematics 2,  we will be ranking 50 next year.  Well, let me get off my soap box with this because I could go on a week about Disconnected Mathematic 2.

Our schools systems are mandated by law to teach certain skill sets to our children but we as parents are not holding them accountable.  Every year or so they adopt knew concepts, a new way to teach, and a new ideas on how to teach but never let good ideas continue because a lot of this is mandated by politics believe or not. 

Whatever happen to repetition being the mother of skill.  When it comes to basic math skills, repetition is the key to the building on previous skills learned.  This process of not building on previous skills has created a situation that our kids are so out of touch with what they are suppose to know and learn.  So as parents how can we get involved in helping our children receive the basic math skills they need to be successful in college and life?  What is the best way we can do this?

Number one, we can start with what I did this morning and that is to call your local school board.  I felt so strongly about this Connected Mathematic 2 situation I called and spoke with the curriculum and development department.  We have got to get more involved with forming the curriculum that is being put before our children. 

Number two, volunteer at your child’s school to be a teacher assistant.  Maybe you’ll be able to get some insight to how your child is being taught and how the information is being delivered.  Don’t volunteer to make the teacher feel uncomfortable but be a genuine help to the teacher and the children. 

Last but not least join the PTA.  I know we are all busy but it is important because may be we can utilized these meeting to talk about more than fun raising.  If  this generation of children don’t learn basic math skills or other critical skills necessary to be competitive, we as a country will continue to fall far behind in education.
[tags]mathematics, basic math skills, basic math, middle grades education, connected mathematics 2, math curriculum[/tags]