Math Teachers Feel Poorly Prepared
From Joannejacobs.com
Many teachers say they’re not well-prepared to teach math, according to an excerpt from a new book, Inequality for All, by William H. Schmidt and Curtis C. McKnight.
In first through third grade, teachers feel prepared to teach only grade-level math topics, a survey of Michigan and Ohio teachers found. In some districts, only half said they were ready for grade-level math. (My first husband said his sister became a second-grade teacher because she couldn’t do third-grade math. This, apparently, is not a joke.)
Upper elementary teachers were more confident, though only one fourth of teachers in one district said they were well prepared to teach decimals.
Only 50 to 60 percent of middle school teachers felt well prepared to teach math topics in Michigan and Ohio standards. Both states plan to introduce algebra topics in eighth grade, but only half the teachers are ready.
Click here to read more. While it is a bit better for high school teachers, it still makes you wonder what kind of foundation is being laid?
This idea is also brought to discussion in the book, Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics by Liping Ma where she discusses the major difference between Chinese and American elementary school teachers’ understanding of basic math concepts (something such as multi-digit multiplication). While many Chinese teachers do not have as much schooling as their American counterparts (only 11 to 12 yrs. vs. 16 to 18 yrs.), the Chinese teachers understanding of the CONCEPTS was far superior as most American teachers in the study (even those with 10+ years experience) were only comfortable with the procedure. Many could not explain why a zero is put on the second row with multiplying something such as 42 x 63, only knowing it is what has always been done.