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When 96% pass science, but only 16% meet standards on the test
San Diego 11th-grade students are passing classes, but failing proficiency tests.

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 14, 20241 min read


Sold a story problem: Start simple, build mastery, says Jump Math founder
Jamal and Maria don't have any apples. Aidan has three Fujis from the supermarket and Olivia has five Honeycrisps from Trader Joe's....

Joanne Jacobs
Jun 4, 20242 min read


You may already be a loser!
American kids have too much self-esteem, argues Bill Maher.

Joanne Jacobs
May 25, 20241 min read


It's 'MATH-ish' -- but is it math?
Stanford will not investigate a complaint accusing Education Professor Jo Boaler of “reckless disregard for accuracy” by misrepresenting...

Joanne Jacobs
May 7, 20243 min read


Kids can learn a lot more math -- and have fun -- in kindergarten
Kindergarten math may be too easy, writes Holley Korbey for the Hechinger Report. The focus is on reading. Math expectations are low. In...

Joanne Jacobs
May 6, 20241 min read


DIY math: Many high school teachers rewrite the curriculum
Many teachers are creating -- or downloading -- their own math materials, according to a recent survey, writes Hechinger's Jill Barshay....

Joanne Jacobs
May 6, 20241 min read


Mathalicious: 'Out with negative numbers, in with positive feelings'
Numbers, multiplication and "right" answers are obsolete, 22nd-century-skills guru Paul Banksley tells Rick Hess. They're "not...

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 12, 20242 min read


Maybe the cure to math anxiety is to teach kids math
Timed tests cause math anxiety, according to Jo Boaler, a Stanford math education professor who's been charged with "reckless disregard...

Joanne Jacobs
Apr 1, 20242 min read


Lots of kids left behind: Why achievement gaps grew
Achievement gaps are large and growing across the country, writes Chad Aldeman on The 74. It's not the pandemic: Scores have been falling...

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 28, 20242 min read


In defense of remedial math classes
Students who are almost ready for college math do best by taking college-level classes with support in basic skills, researchers agree....

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 9, 20242 min read


$250K for 'woke' training: Reading, math scores fall even lower
Training teachers to "disrupt whiteness" isn't helping children learn at a Bay Area school, reports Jill Tucker in the San Francisco...

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 5, 20242 min read


Young students are better in phonics, worse in math
"Covid toddlers" -- kids who were two years old in March 2020 -- were more likely to be unprepared for kindergarten in fall 2023 reports...

Joanne Jacobs
Feb 1, 20241 min read


'School math' is boring: Students want 'real math'
"Math is important, but we’re being taught the wrong kind of math," say high school students in a YouthTruth survey. While 57 percent...

Joanne Jacobs
Jan 11, 20242 min read


Culturally relevant math: If Cardi B owns $500K in handbags ...
Math achievement is very low for black students. Can "culturally relevant" math problems -- such as analyzing a hip-hop star's purse...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 29, 20232 min read


WVU gives students what they want: Good grades in easy classes
West Virginia University is cutting majors and firing professors to fulfill the utilitarian vision of its president, E. Gordon Gee,...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 5, 20232 min read


Practice makes better
How do get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! It's the same for math, writes Holly Korbey on Edutopia. “They are considered dirty words, but...

Joanne Jacobs
Dec 1, 20231 min read


Advanced math puts all achievers on path to equity, excellence
All high achievers should be placed in challenging math classes that prepare them to take algebra in eighth grade, write Brenda Berg and...

Joanne Jacobs
Nov 14, 20231 min read


'Data literacy' will widen STEM gaps
I was willing to swear a solemn vow to not major in math or science in college, I told my teacher. All I asked was to get out of trig....

Joanne Jacobs
Oct 5, 20232 min read


Math disaster in college: Would-be STEM majors can't add 1/2 + 1/3
After a year of remote algebra, "Diego" struggled with advanced algebra. Despite a week at George Mason University's Math Boot Camp, the...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 6, 20232 min read


Students aren't bouncing back in math
Math skills fell during "remote education" and many students aren't bouncing back, reports an education reporting collaborative in a...

Joanne Jacobs
Sep 6, 20232 min read
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