Everyday Math passes the test

I have two daughters, ages 8 and 5, who are currently enrolled in Aspen Elementary School. Both love math. My older daughter is in her third year of the Everyday Math program, and I have yet to note any deficiencies in the program related to the state standards.

I’ve seen sufficient drill on basic addition and subtraction facts, as well as multiplication tables now that she is in third grade. In addition, I have found the methods used to teach skills to be very clever.

My daughter can subtract two- digit numbers in her head almost as quickly as I can, and I credit the program for those skills, in addition to the dedication of her teachers. The puzzles may be very different from what we did as children, but that is no reason to reject them.

I also noted when the state test scores came out that Aspen students did very well in math. I see no evidence of "fuzziness" or mediocrity.

When Mrs. Cobasko’s letters to the Acorn appeared last fall, I checked out her website, as well as the links to other materials. Virtually all of the negative publications were by Dr. Klein.

I could find no broad-based opposition in the literature to the program of any substance. As for the claim that 200 professors signed some statement against the program, I think it is important to realize that while those professors may understand math, that does not mean they understand teaching math. In fact, professors at places like Harvard and Stanford teach very little, mostly to graduate students.

Just as I would not count their endorsement of a program as being meaningful, I do not count their negative view as meaningful here.

It is unfortunate that the Everyday Math program did not work for Mrs. Cobasko’s son, but no program can be expected to work for every individual. Perhaps Mrs. Cobasko’s son got caught in the transition period from the old program to the new. However, that period is behind us now.

Please, let’s not abandon something that teaches well and brings enjoyment.

Dr. Kristine D. Butcher

Professor and Chair,

Department of Chemistry

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks