tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post5826395021411810146..comments2023-09-29T06:32:16.005-04:00Comments on My School Committee Blog: Two Hot Topics: Achievement Gap, MathCatherine A. Sandersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-14514606939945049172011-03-23T14:31:32.451-04:002011-03-23T14:31:32.451-04:00Anonymous 2:24 - there's only one way to prove...Anonymous 2:24 - there's only one way to prove I don't publish particular comments, since obviously anyone can make that claim: post a comment, and send a copy of that comment in an email to me (casanderson@amherst.edu) and someone else you know. That person can then verify that I didn't publish it. Obviously if I wanted to censor comments, I would have censored this one.<br /><br />Many people who read this blog want to discuss education -- do you have thoughts on that you'd like to share, instead of just criticizing me and making up accusations? How about your thoughts on how to improve math, or how to reduce the achievement gap? Aren't those topics somewhat more important to discuss?Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-51655781677993386882011-03-23T14:24:16.008-04:002011-03-23T14:24:16.008-04:00Catherine, You know and the rest of us know you ce...Catherine, You know and the rest of us know you censor comments that have nothing to do with district employees. You have not printed some of my comments...and they did not say anything about district employees. The other thing we know is that you do indeed publish comments that criticize district employees. Isn't it time to drop the facade once and for all?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-48216597076841209782011-03-23T12:40:02.775-04:002011-03-23T12:40:02.775-04:00Anonymous 12:29 - I publish all comments that don&...Anonymous 12:29 - I publish all comments that don't criticize district employees, who may not feel comfortable responding to such critiques. I don't censor comments, including yours, no matter how ridiculous they are. I hope you too will choose to focus on issues of education, instead of personal attacks.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-6554964993088268882011-03-23T12:29:26.927-04:002011-03-23T12:29:26.927-04:00re Ridicule of parents:
You've enabled commen...re Ridicule of parents:<br /><br />You've enabled comment moderation. You're the editing publisher.you published it. You didn't have to; you've made the decision to not post other things in the past.<br /><br />When a UMass student wrote an article saying that some rape victims "asked for it", the editor who published it was held responsible.<br /><br />So why did you do it? You tryin' to stir things up or something? How do we know it wasn't you who wrote those things anonymously about parents for some weird reason?<br /><br />YOU published comments ridiculing parents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-77357802575669514862011-03-22T21:43:35.867-04:002011-03-22T21:43:35.867-04:00arrivederci.arrivederci.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-81740196790631530742011-03-22T18:12:10.689-04:002011-03-22T18:12:10.689-04:00Anonymous 5:34/5:40/5:46 (since it is clear this i...Anonymous 5:34/5:40/5:46 (since it is clear this is one person) - First, I think it is incredibly cowardly to ridicule other parents from your anonymous perch. Second, the letter was from the co-chair of SEPAC, Melissa Paciulli. Maybe you can find a way to ridicule her now as well. Third, I don't post link to letters from the Bulletin on my blog - never have. But if you believe it is important to have Mary's letter publicized, you should start a blog and you can definitely highlight all letters criticizing me. Fourth, I requested such a review during public SC meetings and in private to the superintendents (many different ones) that we have such a review, because I believed it would be very important (I'm sure you can go through old minutes/ACTV programs to find out what I said when). <br /><br />And this post is on two very important topics - math and the achievement gap - and although it is clear these topics don't interest you as much as criticizing me, other people do find these topics interesting and thus are engaging (often using their names) on actual issues of education in Amherst.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-7556468433866077962011-03-22T18:06:19.029-04:002011-03-22T18:06:19.029-04:00Pride hath no shame.Pride hath no shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-30232352086639538692011-03-22T17:46:37.852-04:002011-03-22T17:46:37.852-04:00of course you got a special thank you... from angr...of course you got a special thank you... from angry aaronson and ornery onanibaku.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-38651077507936992752011-03-22T17:40:54.509-04:002011-03-22T17:40:54.509-04:00oh, i see. when, and in what form, did you make t...oh, i see. when, and in what form, did you make that request?<br /><br />would you mind posting a link to mary's letter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-69628661538986682872011-03-22T17:34:24.277-04:002011-03-22T17:34:24.277-04:00You know, the "let's set the record strai...You know, the "let's set the record straight" letter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-53901136742996201552011-03-22T17:33:23.334-04:002011-03-22T17:33:23.334-04:00Anonymous 5:27 - I believe Mary Kiely stated that ...Anonymous 5:27 - I believe Mary Kiely stated that I didn't request an outside review of special education; that is actually factually wrong, as I did request such a review. I believe I've been quite clear on numerous occasions (during SC meetings on TV, in my Bulletin columns) that I have heard concerns from special education parents about their experience, which is why I believed such a review was so important. In fact, I was honored to receive a special thank you during public comment at a SC meeting a month ago from the board of SEPAC for my work on behalf of families with special needs kids. <br /><br />Again, anyone can watch SC meetings or read my blog or read my columns and see what I have and have not done. I think it is pretty clear what I've done while on the SC, and I feel very proud of what I did accomplish in 3 years.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-12375686866969443942011-03-22T17:31:06.691-04:002011-03-22T17:31:06.691-04:00Sam-I-am:
I never claimed I did research on it. ...Sam-I-am:<br /><br />I never claimed I did research on it. Funny, how nearly everything has now changed with Extensions, so much so it doesn't even exist...it sounds like great improvements have been made. And I will point out that you never actually indicated what was inaccurate.Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-42615322124145551512011-03-22T17:27:59.865-04:002011-03-22T17:27:59.865-04:00Hmm... maybe it wasn't her campaign manager, a...Hmm... maybe it wasn't her campaign manager, and that's why you have no idea what i'm talking about. Maybe it was Mary Kiely? did you read the letter that Mary Kiely wrote and that was published in the Bulletin a few weeks ago? Have you responded to that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-48397227385100726262011-03-22T17:24:16.646-04:002011-03-22T17:24:16.646-04:00Abbie-
This is off topic slightly, but I could no...Abbie-<br /><br />This is off topic slightly, but I could not resist. What a "laugh out loud" moment I had when I read in your post about how outrageous it would be to call a piece "research" that was really<br />based on impressions and opinions. And people don't know what research really is.<br /><br />That is exactly what you did last spring when you wrote a scathing "aseessment" of the MS math program that involved no real assessing on your part, just opinions and impressions from quite afar.<br /><br />Sorry to distract from the conversation at hand, but I was having too good a laugh not to share.Sam I Amnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-90723021910827569592011-03-22T17:16:36.067-04:002011-03-22T17:16:36.067-04:00Anonymous 5:08 - I have no idea what you are talki...Anonymous 5:08 - I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you have a concern about something you believe I've lied about, just share what that is and I'm always glad to respond. That's in fact why I have this blog - so that people can ask me questions and get answers. Ask away!Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-60952725222392258082011-03-22T17:08:31.594-04:002011-03-22T17:08:31.594-04:00Catherine, you got called out in the paper by Kath...Catherine, you got called out in the paper by Katherine Appy's campaign manager for lying. Will you please respond to her remarks?<br /><br />Or will you censor this comment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-7206443414811211962011-03-22T16:29:05.025-04:002011-03-22T16:29:05.025-04:00Hi Abbie,
I'm a parent and can speak to the &q...Hi Abbie,<br />I'm a parent and can speak to the "specialists" in the system. I think they are over hired--way, way over hired and under used. They run around half the school year, in the beginning, just trying to locate their students and figure out their schedules--more often than not missing many hours of service with these same students. And then there are field trips, absence, class activities, (of course they can further segregate these students and pull them out of classroom activities of which no specialist with any sense of compassion will do.) And so what happens to that hour/half hour of service--The "specialist" sits idle? and is being paid even so...Happens a lot...<br />Don't get me wrong--please--we need extra help in the classroom, but at the rate of pay that most specialists receive (higher than a lot of teachers)I can understand why anyone might be concerned with how our system is ab/using this money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-23232997669994789392011-03-22T15:57:29.953-04:002011-03-22T15:57:29.953-04:00My response - I share Abbie and Janet's though...My response - I share Abbie and Janet's thoughts completely ... puzzled at the time delay at even considering any of Dr. Chen's recommendation and puzzled by the absence of any actual research being considered (including the famous random assignment study showing Investigations is worse than two curriculum Beth Graham chose to eliminate from consideration). Research and data are not considered when making decisions in this district ... we continue to rely on intuition and anecdote.Catherine A. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523667921190365891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-58777281626576389262011-03-22T15:49:25.334-04:002011-03-22T15:49:25.334-04:00Thinking about all this some more, what I am tryin...Thinking about all this some more, what I am trying to understand if why none of Dr. Chen's key recommendations were adopted in the district's math action plan and why a different actions were chosen.<br /><br />From November until the final action plan, the director of curriculum in collaboration with the K-16 Math Council was to "review all data analysis, survey results, the Common Core Standards, and the findings and recommendations in Dr. Chen’s report, in order to develop an action plan (Phase II in Policy IL). Consideration of a new textbook will proceed in the manner outlined in the Policy for Textbook <br />Adoption." <br /><br />So what in this 5 month review led to a different set of conclusions and actions? The action plan doesn't have a lot of analysis of the problems or weaknesses it is trying to fix, nor the basis of the solutions chosen. Did Beth Graham see something salvageable in Investigations? What problems in teaching math has she observed? Do the elementary and middle school teachers need graduate level math courses? What was the basis for choosing one solution over another? These are the missing pieces for me in trying to understand the math action plan.<br /><br />Janet McGowanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-84204925754246759612011-03-22T15:26:32.406-04:002011-03-22T15:26:32.406-04:00Reading the now posted FAQ about the math recommen...Reading the now posted FAQ about the math recommendations, I think we can surmise that the recommendation for (more) math coaches likely comes from Amy Wolpin (Q17) whose 'research (2006)' is cited. I invite everyone to examine that 'research', which is her dissertation, and I quote is "The focus of this self-study is a critical examination of the influences on my development as an elementary mathematics teacher leader and on the strategies I develop as I coach<br />teachers to improve, and change their practice." <br /><br />Her dissertation is a collection of observations, impressions, and opinions. It is not what one would consider 'research' and is certainly not peer-reviewed.<br /><br />The link is http://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI3242386/ (I don't know if this is accessible to everyone, if not I can email Catherine a copy to post). <br /><br />I despair that this is considered 'research' by Ms Graham, and this dissertation (not research) was used as a basis to make a very important decision. Really, I have no hope that Ms. Graham will be able to use 'research and data' to inform decisions, if she doesn't even understand what 'research and data' means.<br /><br />I think it is likely that Dr. Wolpin would once again be our math coordinator (a position I think she held previously (2006? at least)). Her salary is NOT $55,000.<br /><br />The numbers posted in the FAQ seem to just be salary numbers (not added fringe & benefits) so to be transparent I think the district shoul include all costs of each position (so likely add an additional ~33% or whatever it is for the district).Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-56547137627214367212011-03-22T13:44:43.054-04:002011-03-22T13:44:43.054-04:00I too am puzzled by how the district went from Dr....I too am puzzled by how the district went from Dr. Chen's 4 clear (and inexpensive) 4 recommendations -- to a a math action plan which hires new staff at a cost of $$125,000 next year and an added $265,000 the following year. Dr. Chen never recommended following a math coaching model and I don't think Pelham uses math coaches since none are listed on its staff.<br /><br />So how did Curriculum Director Beth Graham and the district decide that math coaches were its primary (and expensive) strategy to improve math performance in the district schools? I know that the K-16 Math Council never voted on a final set of recommendations and that individual members do not support this approach.<br /><br />What research supports the effectiveness of math coaching? What schools are successfully using this model to boost math achievement and close the achievement gap? These are the questions I will like to see answered tonight.<br /><br />I am also concerned at the continued use of Investigations II for another year. The action plan recognizes that it is weak in computational skills and problem-solving. Pelham's math success seems based on their teachers' skills -- and their really extensive supplementation of the Investigations curriculum. <br /><br />Why wasn't a textbook committee started last November or even last January? Then the district could skip a year of intensive research into proper supplementation for Investigations II, of coaching teachers in how to implement Investigations II and the supplementation, and of testing how that is going -- when the entire curriculum might be replaced in the following year.<br /><br />Ironically, the Smith College Campus School which uses Investigations, uses Singapore Math to supplement it. And now, based on Dr. Chen's report, the school is looking at replacing Investigations -- with Singapore Math. <br /><br />Finally, I am having great difficulty finding what if any of Dr. Chen's recommendations are adopted in the math action plan. Most of his recommendations for action are consigned to "further study," while the plan uses Dr. Chen's own words to justify different actions.<br /><br />Janet McGowanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-71742167434731198792011-03-22T11:09:06.990-04:002011-03-22T11:09:06.990-04:00Anon 8:32. To answer your question: yes.
My ques...Anon 8:32. To answer your question: yes.<br /><br />My question to you: What actions recommended by Dr. Chen are being adopted by the district in its action plan?Wonderingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-91713210309708802182011-03-22T10:38:38.579-04:002011-03-22T10:38:38.579-04:00Thanks, Abbie. I knew you couldn't have meant...Thanks, Abbie. I knew you couldn't have meant the "Specials" teachers but I couldn't figure out what you meant other than them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-83766971032304369872011-03-22T10:34:04.661-04:002011-03-22T10:34:04.661-04:00Hi anon@10:20,
those positions you name are not l...Hi anon@10:20,<br /><br />those positions you name are not listed as 'specialists' in the budget (as I understand it). Those positions (ie art, gym, etc) are listed explicitly in the budget.<br /><br />The specialists that I refer to are the reading specialists and unspecified 'specialists' in the budget. Again, I am NOT disparaging the abilities of these staff, rather just simply questioning the effectiveness of this model.<br /><br />These specialists visit the classrooms at varying schedules and with varying topics (at all schools we have been in a 'reading' specialist is a frequent visitor, and sometimes a 'math' specialist has taught). These are NOT special ed positions and they teach to the entire class. I hesitate to name staff, as I do not want to give any impression that I am singling anyone out. I am just seeking anecdotal information about whether parents (really their kids) think these positions (this model of instruction) has been effective. I just have one data point (my daughter's).Abbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989627808442831131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270815429299703055.post-65815831345850816642011-03-22T10:20:46.512-04:002011-03-22T10:20:46.512-04:00Abbie:
I am trying to understand your post. Woul...Abbie:<br /><br />I am trying to understand your post. Would you do away with art, music, PE and Spanish? Those are the classes taught in specials right now. <br /><br />Is that what you are saying? I can't believe it is but if not then I don't really know what you are referring to. Can you help clarify?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com