New York City's New Chancellor Tackles Controversial Math Curriculum with Tweaks and Reinforcements
In an effort to address mounting criticism, the new Schools Chancellor, Kamar Samuels, has announced a revamped approach to teaching math in middle school and high school. The changes, part of the NYC Solves initiative, aim to ensure students grasp fundamental arithmetic skills before diving into more advanced concepts.
Under the revised plan, Samuels is pushing for "tweaks" to the existing curriculum, Illustrative Math, which has faced challenges in providing adequate foundational instruction. He emphasizes the importance of automaticity – recalling basic math facts instantly – and will work with educators and families to reinforce practicing these basics.
The new approach focuses on conceptual understanding, encouraging students to discuss possible solutions before modeling problems on the smartboard. This shift towards "productive struggle" acknowledges that students learn best through collaborative problem-solving and real-world applications.
Despite initial controversy surrounding the math reforms, there are signs of improvement. State test scores for third to eighth graders increased 3.5 points, with 56.9% of students scoring proficient. However, some teachers and parents have expressed concerns about supporting struggling students, particularly those with disabilities or learning English as a second language.
In response, Samuels has called on the education department to develop additional resources for educators and families. This includes creating supplemental materials to support teacher professional development and helping students master fundamental arithmetic skills.
The new chancellor's efforts reflect a broader shift in how math is taught. By focusing on conceptual understanding and real-world applications, he aims to create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students. As Samuels said, "It's really good work," highlighting the initiative's potential to transform math education in New York City schools.
In an effort to address mounting criticism, the new Schools Chancellor, Kamar Samuels, has announced a revamped approach to teaching math in middle school and high school. The changes, part of the NYC Solves initiative, aim to ensure students grasp fundamental arithmetic skills before diving into more advanced concepts.
Under the revised plan, Samuels is pushing for "tweaks" to the existing curriculum, Illustrative Math, which has faced challenges in providing adequate foundational instruction. He emphasizes the importance of automaticity – recalling basic math facts instantly – and will work with educators and families to reinforce practicing these basics.
The new approach focuses on conceptual understanding, encouraging students to discuss possible solutions before modeling problems on the smartboard. This shift towards "productive struggle" acknowledges that students learn best through collaborative problem-solving and real-world applications.
Despite initial controversy surrounding the math reforms, there are signs of improvement. State test scores for third to eighth graders increased 3.5 points, with 56.9% of students scoring proficient. However, some teachers and parents have expressed concerns about supporting struggling students, particularly those with disabilities or learning English as a second language.
In response, Samuels has called on the education department to develop additional resources for educators and families. This includes creating supplemental materials to support teacher professional development and helping students master fundamental arithmetic skills.
The new chancellor's efforts reflect a broader shift in how math is taught. By focusing on conceptual understanding and real-world applications, he aims to create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for all students. As Samuels said, "It's really good work," highlighting the initiative's potential to transform math education in New York City schools.
guess it's about time they took a shot at getting NYC kids proficient in basic addition and subtraction without having to Google it every 5 minutes lol... some teachers and parents are gonna love the extra resources, though - kudos for recognizing those students need a little more support 
. still think automaticity is key, but I get what Samuels is trying to do here - make math accessible and fun for all, even if that means making it a bit more collaborative 
. only time (and test scores) will tell if these changes actually stick 
! but I'm still skeptical about how this new approach will impact our kids, esp those with disabilities or ELLs... they need extra support too 
especially those with disabilities or learning a second language. Can we make sure we have adequate support in place for all kids, not just the ones who are already catching on quickly? I'd love to see more resources developed for families and educators so everyone has what they need to help their kids succeed 
, I think its interesting how they're trying to address the issues with the current math curriculum by focusing on automaticity and real-world applications 
. However, I hope they can provide more support for struggling students, especially those with disabilities or learning English as a second language 
. It's all about inclusivity and equity - that's what NYC Solves is all about!
. The new approach seems to be moving in the right direction by focusing on conceptual understanding and problem-solving. It's all about getting those kids to think critically and apply math to real-life situations 
.
. We need to make sure they're not left behind in the process. The fact that state test scores are up is great, but we gotta make sure it's not just because of better teaching 
, especially with teachers and parents expressing concerns about supporting struggling students. Are these additional resources for educators and families going to be enough? We'll have to wait and see if this initiative really brings results 
and i love the emphasis on conceptual understanding and real-world applications... that's literally how we learn stuff in life, right? 
I'm so stoked to hear that the new chancellor is shaking things up with this revamped math curriculum! 
. I mean, think about it, most kids aren't going to use those fancy-schmancy formulas in their everyday lives, but they will need to solve problems that make sense to them.
. I'm not surprised, though – it makes total sense to focus on building those foundational skills before diving into more advanced concepts.
. But, as long as the chancellor is committed to supporting struggling students, particularly those with disabilities or English language learners 
. Supporting struggling students is key, especially those with disabilities or language barriers 
.
!
but seriously, it's so important for our kids to feel confident in their ability to recall these facts instantly.
when students are working together and sharing ideas, they learn so much more than just individual concepts. plus, it's a great way to prepare them for the real world, where they'll be solving problems with their colleagues and partners.
. But then my teacher brought in these cool puzzles and games to practice our math facts, and suddenly it wasn't so boring anymore 
.
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