Category Archives: Mathematics

One Basic Problem For Math Literacy

Posted on September 27, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

The Washington Post has a very good piece about math literacy and how it affects minority students. Unfortunately, the column focuses too much on attitudes–which do matter–and not enough on why students can’t do math. That is, what are students … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics | 3 Comments

The Problem Isn’t Algebra

Posted on July 25, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

So the algebra wars are flaring again, thanks to the California chancellor of community colleges (boldface mine): Algebra is one of the biggest hurdles to getting a high school or college degree — particularly for students of color and first-generation … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics | 12 Comments

How Math Illiteracy Hurts Kids: The Colorado Referendum

Posted on November 13, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

At the risk of channeling my inner Dean Baker, I can’t help but think the belief that the failed Colorado referendum to increase taxes slightly to provide school funding to underfunded schools is due to numerical illiteracy. Consider this (boldface … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics, Taxes | 3 Comments

Somehow I Don’t Think This Was Banksy

Posted on October 16, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Only in Boston, with all its colleges, would you see graffiti like this: (Observed on Louisberg Square, Beacon Hill, Boston)

Posted in Boston, Mathematics | 2 Comments

Instead of Racing to Tops or Not Leaving Children Behind, Why Don’t We Just Clone What Massachusetts Has Done?

Posted on December 12, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

The 2011 TIMMS international scholastic test results are out (I’ve written about TIMMS results before). I’ll have more to say about the results later–the Alabama–Massachusetts comparisons, my favorite*, are devastating. But, as a first pass, it’s worth noting that, once … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Massachusetts, Mathematics | 6 Comments

Solidarity and Teaching

Posted on October 15, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

No, this isn’t about unions (at least directly), but teachers supporting each other’s teaching. Carrie Leana describes the role of “social capital” plays in student outcomes, in particular third grade math* (boldface mine): So we asked the teachers whom they … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics, Unions | 4 Comments

Value-Added Testing and “Weapons of Math Destruction”

Posted on September 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve written about the technical problems with using value-added testing to assess teacher performance before. Note that technical is not a synonym for trivial–these problems are fundamental. The recently settled Chicago teachers strike has made this issue important once again. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics, Statistics | 1 Comment

Curriculum and Pedagogy Matter and ‘Reformers’ Suck at Those Things: The Math Edition

Posted on September 20, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

When the latest ‘algebra-is-too-hard-so-let’s-dumb-it-down’ pustule broke, I argued that the problem isn’t learning algebra, it’s that the students in trouble usually haven’t learned basic arithmetic: …one thing I’ve noticed anecdotally is that when students say they have difficultly with algebra, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics | 2 Comments

It’s Not the Algebra, It’s the Arithmetic

Posted on July 30, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

There has been a lot said so far about Andrew Hacker’s argument for de-emphasizing algebra, and I’ll have more to say about that later this week. But one thing I’ve noticed anecdotally is that when students say they have difficultly … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics | 9 Comments

I Am Still the Punditiest Pundit EVAH!: The First Derivative Edition

Posted on November 11, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Back when the Obama Administration was blabbering on about “green shoots”, the forefather of the confidence fairy, I repeatedly bemoaned the confusion between the change in unemployment or other economic indicators (the first derivative) versus the number of people actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Mathematics | 3 Comments