Comments for Point of Inflection http://larkolicio.us/blog Let's get better, and do it on purpose. Mon, 14 May 2012 16:41:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Why CPM is killing my blog by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176&cpage=1#comment-95336 Riley Lark Mon, 14 May 2012 16:41:59 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176#comment-95336 Hi Jeff,Two years ago I left teaching to create a tool for teachers. I ended up loving CPM as much as I raved about in this post, but I'm afraid I don't have many long-term tips.Thanks for writing! Check out the main CPM site for collaborators - they (at least used to) have a forum for CPM teachers to share questions, strategies, etc. Hi Jeff,

Two years ago I left teaching to create a tool for teachers. I ended up loving CPM as much as I raved about in this post, but I’m afraid I don’t have many long-term tips.

Thanks for writing! Check out the main CPM site for collaborators – they (at least used to) have a forum for CPM teachers to share questions, strategies, etc.

]]> Comment on Why CPM is killing my blog by Jeff Holcombhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176&cpage=1#comment-95183 Jeff Holcomb Sun, 13 May 2012 11:19:47 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176#comment-95183 I'm wondering what's happened with your use of CPM since this post. I am a CPM user and am looking for collaborators. Cheers I’m wondering what’s happened with your use of CPM since this post. I am a CPM user and am looking for collaborators.
Cheers

]]> Comment on How to create a skills list by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=135&cpage=1#comment-93459 Riley Lark Fri, 04 May 2012 15:46:03 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=135#comment-93459 Good luck! Let us know how it goes :) Good luck! Let us know how it goes :)

]]> Comment on How to create a skills list by Katiehttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=135&cpage=1#comment-92862 Katie Tue, 01 May 2012 20:45:38 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=135#comment-92862 A colleague and I stumbled upon Dan's blog/method very recently and we are looking to implement this year next year. I teach Algebra 2 and Calculus. Your concept lists look great! Thanks for posting them. A colleague and I stumbled upon Dan’s blog/method very recently and we are looking to implement this year next year. I teach Algebra 2 and Calculus. Your concept lists look great! Thanks for posting them.

]]> Comment on Why CPM is killing my blog by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176&cpage=1#comment-88603 Riley Lark Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:42:51 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176#comment-88603 Thanks for your response, Liz! I certainly didn't have a lot of long-term data and it's possible I was so enamored with the connections students were making that I was devaluing the skills of being able to add, subtract, etc QUICKLY and FLUENTLY.It's great that they see why subtraction works, but maybe it's more important that they can subtract.There are a number of contradictory studies out there. Before we chose to adopt CPM we found enough studies supporting it that it seemed like a responsible choice. I could believe that a lot depends on the implementation, too. I had a degree in math and was a real stickler for details, precision, and responsibility in each student - it's not hard to imagine a teacher without the skills and passion to run CPM as carefully. It's not even necessarily about the teacher - if administration chooses CPM *for* teachers, but doesn't supply the requisite motivation and training, I could imagine it flopping.Thanks again!Riley Thanks for your response, Liz! I certainly didn’t have a lot of long-term data and it’s possible I was so enamored with the connections students were making that I was devaluing the skills of being able to add, subtract, etc QUICKLY and FLUENTLY.

It’s great that they see why subtraction works, but maybe it’s more important that they can subtract.

There are a number of contradictory studies out there. Before we chose to adopt CPM we found enough studies supporting it that it seemed like a responsible choice. I could believe that a lot depends on the implementation, too. I had a degree in math and was a real stickler for details, precision, and responsibility in each student – it’s not hard to imagine a teacher without the skills and passion to run CPM as carefully. It’s not even necessarily about the teacher – if administration chooses CPM *for* teachers, but doesn’t supply the requisite motivation and training, I could imagine it flopping.

Thanks again!

Riley

]]> Comment on Why CPM is killing my blog by lizhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176&cpage=1#comment-88487 liz Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:26:47 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=176#comment-88487 I'm in a district that has been using CPM for over 10 years. From what I see it has not done well. The advanced students get it but many/most? of the rest don't. Though maybe the high end kids aren't either because 2 kids I know were told to change out of engineering in college because their math wasn't good enough, even though they did well in CPM math in high school. My own kids always ended up having to do the work for the groups. They hated it. Teachers might love it because they see wonderful, new connections forgetting that they already knew the math topic when they started. Only about a third of our tenth grade students are proficient on our state math test. CPM doesn't prepare kids for the rapid, fluent math required for the ACT or the reasoning required on the SAT. I think some of the CPM activities are great as supplements but really the books are mostly a collection of activities. The 2008 Final Report of the National Math Advisory Panel recommended Computer Assisted Instruction. That's the best way I see to personalize instruction and meet students exactly where they are. I’m in a district that has been using CPM for over 10 years. From what I see it has not done well. The advanced students get it but many/most? of the rest don’t. Though maybe the high end kids aren’t either because 2 kids I know were told to change out of engineering in college because their math wasn’t good enough, even though they did well in CPM math in high school. My own kids always ended up having to do the work for the groups. They hated it. Teachers might love it because they see wonderful, new connections forgetting that they already knew the math topic when they started. Only about a third of our tenth grade students are proficient on our state math test. CPM doesn’t prepare kids for the rapid, fluent math required for the ACT or the reasoning required on the SAT. I think some of the CPM activities are great as supplements but really the books are mostly a collection of activities. The 2008 Final Report of the National Math Advisory Panel recommended Computer Assisted Instruction. That’s the best way I see to personalize instruction and meet students exactly where they are.

]]> Comment on Sex Ed, Legislation, Khan Academy, &fc. by Shirley A Burnshttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133&cpage=1#comment-85998 Shirley A Burns Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:58:25 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133#comment-85998 I do think it's a valid question for all parents [perhaps *especially* homeschoolers ;-) ] to ask themselves from time... am I comfortable/confident/ with my child's teachers/educational environment? If not, why not, and what am I willing to do about it? Complaining is not an option. I do think it’s a valid question for all parents [perhaps *especially* homeschoolers ;-) ] to ask themselves from time… am I comfortable/confident/ with my child’s teachers/educational environment? If not, why not, and what am I willing to do about it? Complaining is not an option.

]]> Comment on Sex Ed, Legislation, Khan Academy, &fc. by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133&cpage=1#comment-85781 Riley Lark Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:34:22 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133#comment-85781 Oh, yeah. This is not meant as a knock against home school at all. It's about trusting the people your kids are spending time with.Thanks for the comments, Paul & Shirley! Oh, yeah. This is not meant as a knock against home school at all. It’s about trusting the people your kids are spending time with.

Thanks for the comments, Paul & Shirley!

]]> Comment on Sex Ed, Legislation, Khan Academy, &fc. by Shirley A Burnshttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133&cpage=1#comment-85780 Shirley A Burns Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:29:15 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133#comment-85780 Agreed, in general... but know that it is a mistaken stereotype that families homeschool so as to "shelter" their children from being "infected" by the popular culture and "differing" viewpoints.Obviously there are some who do, just as there are families who abandon complete parenting responsibility just "dump" their children into a classroom and expect the group of adults there to deal with everything.An intelligent parent, whether of the homeschool variety or otherwise, embraces the opportunity to discuss varying points of view and values with the child. One has to take advantage of "teachable moments" whenever they arise. Um, that's our job. Agreed, in general… but know that it is a mistaken stereotype that families homeschool so as to “shelter” their children from being “infected” by the popular culture and “differing” viewpoints.

Obviously there are some who do, just as there are families who abandon complete parenting responsibility just “dump” their children into a classroom and expect the group of adults there to deal with everything.

An intelligent parent, whether of the homeschool variety or otherwise, embraces the opportunity to discuss varying points of view and values with the child. One has to take advantage of “teachable moments” whenever they arise. Um, that’s our job.

]]> Comment on Sex Ed, Legislation, Khan Academy, &fc. by Paul Salomonhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133&cpage=1#comment-85484 Paul Salomon Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:19:58 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1133#comment-85484 Nice post. The departmental, info-dump mentality about schools just kills me. I couldn't work at a school like that.The truth is, you can only control the will and thoughts of children so long. Children grow, parents die, and things always change.The world is FULL of differing opinions, wrong ideas, and stupid people. You can only try so long to raise a kid apart from that.If instead school is the place where students are brought face to face with the real controversies of the world and allowed to grapple with them, free from judgement and the need for "right" answers, then they can grow up synthesizing a coherent world view.I see my job as intellectual human development. It's foolish to think kids could spend their full time at school and not be impacted by its culture.Worse yet, if you want your kids to soak up the culture of following and submission, then I am the wrong teacher for you.Please leave.Sorry for the rant. Thanks for the post. Nice post. The departmental, info-dump mentality about schools just kills me. I couldn’t work at a school like that.

The truth is, you can only control the will and thoughts of children so long. Children grow, parents die, and things always change.

The world is FULL of differing opinions, wrong ideas, and stupid people. You can only try so long to raise a kid apart from that.

If instead school is the place where students are brought face to face with the real controversies of the world and allowed to grapple with them, free from judgement and the need for “right” answers, then they can grow up synthesizing a coherent world view.

I see my job as intellectual human development. It’s foolish to think kids could spend their full time at school and not be impacted by its culture.

Worse yet, if you want your kids to soak up the culture of following and submission, then I am the wrong teacher for you.

Please leave.

Sorry for the rant. Thanks for the post.

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-84856 Riley Lark Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:26:50 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-84856 Someone just forwarded me your slides. Thanks for quoting me! :) Someone just forwarded me your slides. Thanks for quoting me! :)

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by James Dunseithhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-80838 James Dunseith Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:30:28 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-80838 Just wanted to say that I read this yesterday and quoted from it during a little opener in a meeting with colleagues today. We appreciate your words - well said & thanks. Just wanted to say that I read this yesterday and quoted from it during a little opener in a meeting with colleagues today. We appreciate your words – well said & thanks.

]]> Comment on Being George Jetson won’t be an option. by Giving feedback without judgement |http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1092&cpage=1#comment-79445 Giving feedback without judgement | Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:17:26 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1092#comment-79445 [...] Three students have contributed but I only praised the one with the right answer.  Later, they’ll take the SAT and ACT tests and only get credit for their right answers.  They’ll leave school thinking right answers are the only thing that matters – but that will just set them up for failure in 20 years. [...] [...] Three students have contributed but I only praised the one with the right answer.  Later, they’ll take the SAT and ACT tests and only get credit for their right answers.  They’ll leave school thinking right answers are the only thing that matters – but that will just set them up for failure in 20 years. [...]

]]> Comment on Please Stop Praising Success. by Giving feedback without judgement |http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=842&cpage=1#comment-79438 Giving feedback without judgement | Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:04:16 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=842#comment-79438 [...] you only praise “success“, it gives students the impression that you only care about “success.” In my [...] [...] you only praise “success“, it gives students the impression that you only care about “success.” In my [...]

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-79115 Riley Lark Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:39:18 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-79115 Problem finding... Impossible to grade? What should we do? Problem finding… Impossible to grade? What should we do?

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by Martin Grahamhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-79113 Martin Graham Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:28:00 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-79113 I've been thinking a lot this year about how my classes aren't where I want them to be yet. I've been thinking about how to make this more explicit to my students (because, for the most part, they are doing what they are 'supposed' to do). Then I saw it, tucked away towards the end of your post.......problem finding...Thanks for the blog. I’ve been thinking a lot this year about how my classes aren’t where I want them to be yet. I’ve been thinking about how to make this more explicit to my students (because, for the most part, they are doing what they are ‘supposed’ to do). Then I saw it, tucked away towards the end of your post…

….problem finding…

Thanks for the blog.

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-78980 Riley Lark Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:23:55 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-78980 I think we could START by sending them out with portfolios of work that they assemble, and celebrating those with as much circumstance as we do their diplomas. Software does come to mind, and certainly with ActiveGrade we're trying to head in that direction by allowing students to have input in their own records, and by making those records reflections of knowledge and learning instead of compliance.I suspect that this sort of change would need more than a software layer on top of the current system, though. I'm guessing that, until we value carpenters as much as we value lawyers and other highly-educated occupations, teachers won't be able to change this at a classroom level. Or even a school level, really. I think we could START by sending them out with portfolios of work that they assemble, and celebrating those with as much circumstance as we do their diplomas. Software does come to mind, and certainly with ActiveGrade we’re trying to head in that direction by allowing students to have input in their own records, and by making those records reflections of knowledge and learning instead of compliance.

I suspect that this sort of change would need more than a software layer on top of the current system, though. I’m guessing that, until we value carpenters as much as we value lawyers and other highly-educated occupations, teachers won’t be able to change this at a classroom level. Or even a school level, really.

]]> Comment on You met our expectations. by Dan Goldnerhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082&cpage=1#comment-78974 Dan Goldner Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:35:54 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1082#comment-78974 Me too. What does the software look like that allows me to give 65 students that celebration to take with them on their way? Me too. What does the software look like that allows me to give 65 students that celebration to take with them on their way?

]]> Comment on Now Hiring by Marihttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064&cpage=1#comment-78618 Mari Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:19:47 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064#comment-78618 Your high school experience sounds just like my husband's experience. It has helped bring me a better perspective as a teacher and challenged me to make my assignments meaningful. He always wins at every trivia game, though. Your high school experience sounds just like my husband’s experience. It has helped bring me a better perspective as a teacher and challenged me to make my assignments meaningful. He always wins at every trivia game, though.

]]> Comment on Now Hiring by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064&cpage=1#comment-78601 Riley Lark Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:47:31 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064#comment-78601 One thing we're interested in doing is hiring people on a probationary kind of setup - we'll hire you for a month or so, full benefits, but without the particular expectation - either way - that this has been established as a perfect fit yet. I'm not sure how well candidates would be interested in that, but it seems like OUR best way to get a sense of the important attributes of a new colleague.I'm sure there will be blog posts about that, if we do it :) Thanks for the comment! One thing we’re interested in doing is hiring people on a probationary kind of setup – we’ll hire you for a month or so, full benefits, but without the particular expectation – either way – that this has been established as a perfect fit yet. I’m not sure how well candidates would be interested in that, but it seems like OUR best way to get a sense of the important attributes of a new colleague.

I’m sure there will be blog posts about that, if we do it :) Thanks for the comment!

]]> Comment on Now Hiring by Evahttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064&cpage=1#comment-78599 Eva Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:30:32 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=1064#comment-78599 One of my brothers had a job interview with a company who wanted someone with practical knowledge of the application of their product. They only had theoretical people, and recognised this was a problem. They had been unable to hire anyone for this position for over two years. Speaking to them, they were very enthusiastic about his hands-on skills and experience, and it seemed like a good match. But before they went to hire him, they made him sit an extremely theoretical exam. And then they didn't hire him. And my prediction is they will never hire anyone. All practical people just don't have the theoretical stuff in their heads, they know to look it up or get the geek to tell them... I know, not very relevant to you, yet I want to say, good luck with finding the right person! One of my brothers had a job interview with a company who wanted someone with practical knowledge of the application of their product. They only had theoretical people, and recognised this was a problem. They had been unable to hire anyone for this position for over two years.
Speaking to them, they were very enthusiastic about his hands-on skills and experience, and it seemed like a good match. But before they went to hire him, they made him sit an extremely theoretical exam. And then they didn’t hire him. And my prediction is they will never hire anyone. All practical people just don’t have the theoretical stuff in their heads, they know to look it up or get the geek to tell them…
I know, not very relevant to you, yet I want to say, good luck with finding the right person!

]]> Comment on Active Grading: Scale Matters by Top 100 High School Teacher Blogs - L I V Ahttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=800&cpage=1#comment-78580 Top 100 High School Teacher Blogs - L I V A Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:14:26 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=800#comment-78580 [...] about them, and getting to hear what other people think about them.” Recommended posts: “Active Grading: Scale Matters” and “What did you do to the x-axis?!? Using the most relevant context [...] [...] about them, and getting to hear what other people think about them.” Recommended posts: “Active Grading: Scale Matters” and “What did you do to the x-axis?!? Using the most relevant context [...]

]]> Comment on Painting with Functions by Rileyhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=50&cpage=1#comment-77527 Riley Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:08:39 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=50#comment-77527 With no time pressure to teach 500 other skills, I would do this every day. Honestly, I was moved by the amount of enjoyment and curiosity I saw in the students, and would scrap everything in the mandatory curriculum after arithmetic in favor of a program like this. I think most students would end up learning MORE math than they do in the lock-stop curriculum through Alg2 / Calculus they go through now. With no time pressure to teach 500 other skills, I would do this every day. Honestly, I was moved by the amount of enjoyment and curiosity I saw in the students, and would scrap everything in the mandatory curriculum after arithmetic in favor of a program like this. I think most students would end up learning MORE math than they do in the lock-stop curriculum through Alg2 / Calculus they go through now.

]]> Comment on Polydoku! by Marvinhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-73437 Marvin Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:56:55 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=95#comment-73437 I love poly-doku. I thinks its the best way to connect operations with integers and factoring. But for some who are still struggling with both topics, I guess there is really no royal road to math. Just trea it like 'DOTA' ..." NO experience, NO skill." Keep it up! I love poly-doku. I thinks its the best way to connect operations with integers and factoring. But for some who are still struggling with both topics, I guess there is really no royal road to math. Just trea it like ‘DOTA’ …” NO experience, NO skill.” Keep it up!

]]> Comment on Bringing the Problem to Physical Reality: Trigonometry by Riley Larkhttp://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=456&cpage=1#comment-72307 Riley Lark Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:55:07 +0000 http://larkolicio.us/blog/?p=456#comment-72307 Ah, that's definitely a smart improvement that I hadn't thought of. Thanks for the suggestion. Let us know how it works! Ah, that’s definitely a smart improvement that I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for the suggestion. Let us know how it works!

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