D.C. trying to connect math to lives of children
Rising NAEP scores attributed to new "Everyday math" curriculum
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Camille Jackson high-fives Angel Smith, 8, in a third-grade math lesson at Noyes Elementary in Northeast. At top, Master Smith, 7, tries to figure out a fraction. (Dayna Smith-TWP)
How does outer space smell?... Quiz a Nobel laureate
If you’ve ever had a hankering to ask Nobel laureate Albert Fert a question about his discovery of Giant Magnetoresistance (and let’s face it, who hasn’t?), here’s your chance.
You already missed the opportunity to quiz John C. Mather, who won the Nobel in Physics in 2006.
The people behind the Nobel Prizes are offering us regular folks a chance to directly question some of the brilliant winners.
Help schools use non-fiction books
Buried in the avalanche of emails and comments I received after my column begging for more non-fiction books in school I found a note from one of my favorite educators, Dan McMahon, principal of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville. One of his English students (he insists on teaching in addition to his other chores) told me McMahon assigned “The Dragons of Eden” by Carl Sagan and “Black Boy” by Richard Wright, so I hoped for more good suggestions.
Instead, we got into an argument. He upbraided me for blaming English departments for the fiction overload. He said: why couldn’t the math department assign Mario Livio’s “The Golden Ratio?” How about psychology teachers requiring Russ Rymer’s “Genie” or Oliver Sack’s “The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat?”
I said he was biased in favor of his discipline, a grave sin for a principal. The math, psych, history and science teachers have barely enough time to teach the content that makes their fields comprehensible. Since the English department teaches how to read and write, why couldn’t they use more non-fiction?
McMahon said that was a canard. He said teachers in all fields had some discretionary time if they chose to use it. “Traditionally English departments and art departments are the dumping ground for everyone who has an idea that they don’t know what to do with,” he said.
Continue reading this post »Ed Buzz: The Region
- Alex. considers new school boundaries(Examiner)
- PG parents fear impact of school cuts(WJLA)
- Md. lawmakers favor ed cuts (Baltimore Sun)
- Sweeps curb use of drugs in Richmond schools (Richmond Times Dispatch)
- NVCC undergoes security review(Potomac News)
- Catholic school closings loom(Baltimore Sun)
- Moco studies anti-gang program for 5th-graders (The Gazette)