General Resources: Articles on Math Education, Reform, Standards, Technology, Teacher Preparation, Assessment..

  • Numeracy: The New Literacy for a Data-Drenched Society By Lynn Arthur Steen.
    "To develop an informed citizenry and to support a democratic government, schools must graduate students who are numerate as well as literate." A good read for math teachers -- also worth passing on to your k-12 colleagues who teacher other disciplines.
  • The Case Against "Tougher Standards" By Alfie Kohn.
    Back in 1959, John Holt wrote that the main effect "of the drive for so-called higher standards in schools is that the children are too busy to think." -- are there for lessons for today?
  • Teaching Math: No Simple Formula (By Alan J. Borsuk for Wisconsin Journal Sentinel).
    Teachers in China work extensively, individually and in small groups, on ways to make sure they are doing their jobs well. American teachers have larger amounts of actual classroom time and very little time to work on improving their effectiveness.

    "What U.S. teachers are expected to accomplish then is impossible," [Liping Ma] says. "It is clear that they do not have enough time and appropriate support to think through thoroughly what they are to teach. And without a clear idea of what to teach, how can one determine how to teach it thoroughly?"

    [Can ADEPT help foster "Lesson Plan Study" types of communities -- communities of scholars, among Delmarva teachers? Stay tuned for developments, or drop us a line!]

  • "The Best Dentist" One Superintendent's humorous look at what makes good sense -- and what doesn't -- in national standards legislation.
  • NCLB: Dreams and Nightmares by Jerry Becker appeared in Feb 17 article in mailing list of NCSM (National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics newsletter reprinted from the Phi Delta Kappan.