math-investigations

[Miss E.]

so our district has adopted the scott foresman investigations program for math. i went to the training workshop for it this summer already and am still skeptical it will work in my classroom. i teach at a math magnet and the students are supposed to be working at an advanced pace and i am worried that this program goes too slowly. also, it is a completely different way of teaching math-one that i have never taught and am not completely comfortable with yet myself.

if anyone has used this program and can give me some pointers or some positive feedback from it, it would be greatly appreciated! we are just being told to "believe" that it works!

[czacza]

We looked at it briefly about a year or so ago...we decided there's too much 'bad press' associated with it and passed.

Miss E- do you have any flexibility with your program? Can you supplement with other materials, math games, problem solving activities to 'push' your students' thinking? Or are you TIED to the Investigations program?

[sophie1]

Our school is going to adopt this math program next year. I've heard it's a good program.

[Mom2two]

I feel sorry for you. Our district has that series, and I don't know that I have ever heard one positive comment about it. It is terrible. You will be supplementing all the time. We are going to be piloting 2 new series this year in our district. I plan to pretty much use the pilots for most of my math. I'm sorry to be so negative. I'm actually really surprised that districts are still using Investigations!

[sophie1]

What is wrong with the series overall? What series is better in your opinion? Thanks!

[Mom2two]

There are many, many holes in the curriculum. We were all supplementing constantly. There is also no mastery. At some point, the students do need to learn their facts, and this series never really incorporated that into it. We were highly disappointed. Better? Ummm....probably pretty much anything! We are piloting Everyday, and Math Expressions. Our attitudes are 'anything has to be better than what we have!'

[mandabee]

I also work at a math magnet and use Investigations. Our school also is on a math grant for a program called Direct Mathematical Thinking (DMT). It teaches kids strategies other than the traditional algorithm, like they do in Japan, China and the Netherlands which are always the top 3 countries in mathematics. Learning something new and different is always hard, but after a year of teaching with Investigations (and DMT) and seeing how it really gets the kids a deeper understanding of math concepts, I am sold on it. I understand people's reluctance, but our nation is very LOW in math standings so the traditional way isn't working.

Kids do learn their math facts, BUT not through rote memorization. Of course their are holes in Investigations, but there are usually holes in all math programs. I think that's the fun part of being a teacher is being able to fill in those holes. No curriculum is truly complete.

I recommend a book by Van De Walle that has great math lessons in it that really take things to a deeper level. I got it on amazon for under $20 and I refer to if often for math activity ideas.

If you want to talk further PM me. I know the frustration with Investigations, but my suggestion is just give it a chance! I also know the pressure of working at a math magnet, so if you want to compare notes...let me know!

[Miss E.]

we are definitely bound to investigations....we have actually had the program in the past and that WAS our supplement...we used the scott foresman "bear" book and other things bc of our math program and investigations was the extra...now they have changed it and as far as i know, we are not allowed to use any other supplemented programs...it is our one and only anchor math program

[Miss E.]

i am very open to new ideas but it just seems like im going to have to train my mind to think differently as well. and the parents i know will question why students are doing things the way we were taught and they will try to help them with homework at home and the student will get confused. we were told that u cant teach it both ways...for example, you can not teach tradiation carriying in the tens place and then the way investigation teaches it bc the student will get confused and it will be a major set back....how did you explain it to parents...im vvery concerned!! i thought coming out of the training would give me a better understanding and calm my nerves, but it did the opposite!!!

[lteach2]

Miss E.-maybe we are in the same system. I am going to training later this summer for the same thing.