GREENWOOD GOING BACK TO BASICS
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 -- 9:29 AM
The old math is the new math at Greenwood.Superintendent Tom Nykl says the school is moving from a "core math" curriculum to a traditional approach.
For the past eight years, Greenwood's been using a "reformed math" approach; instead of Algebra, Geometry, Calculus and Trig, students get a mixture of all those subjects in Core Math 1, Core Math 2, etc.
"(With core math) you approach it more from a constructivist model," Nykl says, "Where you basically present information and give students a chance to explore and construct an understanding of the math."
But, a curriculum committee studied the issue and determined a traditional approach would better prepare students for college and tests.
"The kids will be shown more how to do things instead of explore how to do things," Nykl says, "The rationale for reformed math is to develop a deeper understanding, but our hope is we're going to have that same understanding using a traditional approach."
Educators have been exploring different approaches to teaching math for years. "New math" came on the scene in the 1950s, fell from favor in the 70s and reappeared in the 80s, according to Nykl.
Many larger school districts offer both approaches.
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