OK, so we’re more than halfway through another year of school. After 4-1/2 years of frustration, we’d thrown in the towel on Investigations and started homeschooling in grade 5 math as of September 2009. Given that our family is now looking at middle school next year, we need to revisit our options and start thinking about what to do next as far as math instruction. At SCASD’s middle schools, Connected Math is used. What do I find when learning more about Connected Math? Read on:
“I am shocked to realize that the Dale Seymour “Connected Mathematics” is just as harmful for middle school as “Investigations” is for elementary school. It carries on the tradition of nightly homework that is a) hard to figure out b) takes forever to do once you figure it out c) after you’re done you haven’t learned any useful math d) it goes out of the way to make sure the #1 most important method to know is not taught, or allowed.” Arthur Hu (Education News, October 2003)
Reviews of the Connected Math curricula have been done by Dr. Tsang at Michigan State.
Based on these reviews and the preponderance of similar criticisms of Connected Math, it looks like I’m going to be homeschooling my child in math for another few years. What worked well for us this year? Doing an online math program — at school in the computer lab — in place of Investigations during classroom instruction. While an unusual arrangement, I am confident that much more has been learned this way that would have been learned with Investigations. To do so, it was necessary to register as a Part Time Non-public Resident [PTNR] home schooled student, and these applications are due in to SCASD by March 5. If you’d like to learn more about this approach, feel free to contact me at: schaefer819@gmail.com
