Balancing the Emphasis in Mathematics Education

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The speaker questions the idea in the common core that conceptual understanding, procedural skills, and applications should be pursued with equal intensity as no evidence was provided during the creation of the common core curriculum. They highlight that the National Math Panel mentioned these aspects are mutually reinforcing but did not specify teaching them with equal intensity. The speaker, a former school teacher, suggests that the emphasis on these aspects should not necessarily be balanced in math education.

In this episode, math professor Anna Stokke is joined by education policy expert, Dr. Tom Loveless. They discuss the National Math Advisory Panel and some of the recommendations in from its final report. They talk about the influential 1989 NCTM standards and their global impact on math education as well as the history of the math wars.

Tom discusses some of his concerns about the California Math Framework and whether its recommendations are aligned with those in the National Math Advisory Panel report. They cover many other topics such as San Francisco’s unsuccessful de-tracking initiative and the importance of memorizing math facts. This episode is a must listen for anyone who teaches math, as well as parents and policymakers.

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

https://www.annastokke.com/ep-25-transcript

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.annastokke.com/ep-25-resources

MUSIC

Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it

Blue Dot Sessions – Avoiding the Backdrop, Godmother’s Visit, Lakeside Path, Momentary Ease, Sonatina Kemf

Komiku – Bleu