reply to Jane Werner

[Kath]

I have taught 2nd through 7th grades over 30 years, and college
students for 20.

It is my experience that my colleagues are overwhelmingly reading
specialists who find math an uncomfortable fit, particularly after the
third grade level. They use a cookbook approach to teaching math for
the PSSA test. Typical of textbook presentations, one size fits all.
Teaching math is like building a skyscraper. If the foundation is
weak, the later levels will fail. Too many of our students are
memorizing math, because their teachers learned math just that way, to
get through the tests. Our students are not developing the
understanding of the patterns and interrelationships between concepts
and processes that make math creative and exciting to apply.

I also teach math methods to prospective elementary teachers.
Formerly, given a k-6 certification, most sought student teaching
assignments in the lower elementary grades because they wanted to
avoid mathematics. The majority, now, realizing they are weak in math,
are gravitating to the primary certification. It is surprising how few
are looking for the upper elementary certification because they admit
they are intimidated by the mathematics.

I do not believe the solution is a pk-12 certificate. Math majors
belong in the upper grade levels. However, those who are invested in
elementary students and have the interest and ability in mathematics
should find a certification that enables them to enrich their
backgrounds with methods and application skills to teach students to
understand and enjoy math. I agree with Jane. Great teaching does
produce great scores but better still, it produces children with solid
mathematical foundations.

In a perfect world all teachers would teach all subjects equally well,
but we all know that is not the case. Our students and teachers have
strengths and weaknesses. We should capitalize on them. The NCTM has
recommended specialists for the upper elementary grade subjects, and I
support the notion that by adding math specialists in elementary
school we benefit primary students, as well.

[CIC Mercyhurst team]

Kath,

I would agree, about students who are seeking degrees in education taking the route to primary.  We are having a very difficult time getting students to seek middle level certification because higher level math courses are required.

I have observed pre-service teachers in 7-12 level struggle with teaching math and science in grade seven because they have a weak foundation in math and are terrified to learn.  Thus, we are setting these students up for failure as future teachers and we are ensuring that the children who are taught by these very teachers are failures at math in the future.  A sad commentary to say the least.  This is WHY we need the math specialist certification.

Seriously, math majors are not any better at teaching math than elementary teachers because they do not see the big picture.  THey are math majors because it is easy for them, so they think they can teach it.  Yes, they know content as per their PRAXIS II results, but math pedagogy is nonexistent.Some of the coop teachers I have observed also need a math coach because their math pedagogy is also weak!  Pre-service teachers demand easy math classes and education departments succumb to them so that the attrition rates are acceptable.  Sad to say, but true.

[Kathleen Schanbacher]

very true!