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Cascade Middle School teacher Aaron Whitright explains a math concept to Shasta Ives during fourth period last week. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News

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Can new math lessons help kids pass the WASL?

Sunday, April 6, 2008 1:21 AM PDT

By Carrie Pederson

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Cascade Middle School eighth-grader Sam Anagnostou says math is getting easier for him, and he needs to be in a more advanced class.

"I need a challenge," he said recently.

Teacher Aaron Whitright agrees, noting that many of Sam's fourth-period classmates also get good grades.

But when it comes to the WASL — the state's exam measuring whether kids are learning what the state wants them to — it's another story.

"You can't remember everything you did all year just to do the WASL," said Amber Kraabell, who took the WASL pretest with her classmates in February. "It gets so frustrating."

"It's really obvious when we go over it," Nadine Pillias said. "I know now, but I was thinking another way."

"I'm not good on tests. My memory goes blank," said Alex Borja. "It's lots of pressure."

Students and educators statewide are under pressure to ratchet up their math performance.

Fewer than half of the Kelso and Longview students who took the math WASL passed it last year, and the statewide average was only slightly higher -- 55 percent. In response, the state Board of Education is expected to adopt new math standards this spring that educators say will be tougher but more concise and clearer.

The new math standards, "seem to be a little more concise and narrowed down," Whitright said, with only seven grade-level expectations for eighth grade rather than over 40.

"It was tough to figure out what they wanted," he said. "If you interpreted it wrong it was not good for you or your class of school."

A mile wide, an inch deep

Existing standards, developed so the state complies with the federal No Child Left Behind Act, are "a mile wide and an inch deep," said Brian Jefferies, graduation policy director for the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "One criticism of existing standards is that too many concepts are introduced each year."

Essentially, no content will be eliminated, but it will be reorganized so related concepts are taught together. For example, students now will learn how to figure out both the area and volume of geometric shapes at the same time. They're now taught in separately in fourth and fifth grades, said George Bright, a math curriculum specialist for OSPI.

In addition, there will be more emphasis on fundamentals, such as learning the multiplication table, Bright added.

The new standards "should help teachers focus instruction so that students at each grade develop critical understanding without having to review the ideas in later grades," Bright said.

It's hard to foresee what the shift in math focus will mean at the classroom level.

Longview doesn't anticipate needing new math textbooks, but the district already is recruiting more math teachers with the expectation that more high school math classes will be needed, said Ann Cavanaugh, district curriculum director.

"We can't just take a teacher and have him teach math. They have to be highly qualified," Cavanaugh said. "We're hiring early because there is going to be a shortage of qualified people."

Teachers will get training help thanks to a bill reauthorized in the Legislature to provide extra training teachers in math and science. Last year the bill allocated $39 million for professional development.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson said she's confident the new math standards will improve scores on the WASL, as the Washington Assessment of Student Learning is called. More importantly, she said, it will improve math understanding.

"Once our new math standards are implemented, our students will be able to compete with the best students in the nation and in the world," she predicted last month.

There are some formidable obstacles to improving math, though, that go beyond changing standards and curriculum.

A 2008 report by National Mathematics Advisory Panel cautions educators and parents about one of the psychological barriers.

"Much of the public's 'resignation' about math education is based in the erroneous ideas that success comes from inherent talent or ability in mathematics, not effort," according to the panel's report. Effort makes a difference, the panel said.

But eighth-graders in Aaron's Whitright's fourth-period say they need more help and practice. That's hard to come by at home because parents themselves don't understand the material or don't have time. In the case of the state's growth Latino population, language is also a barrier.

"They don't understand English," said Alex Borja of his parents.

Without help, it's difficult to push students harder in math. "When you send kids home with a bunch of work, they do it incorrectly (and) they learn it wrong," Whitright said.

Even for an experienced teacher, teaching math can be a challenge, Whitright said.

"Trying to incorporate language with math is one of the biggest obstacles to hurdle," he said.

"To learn the math language is like learning a whole 'nother language," he said.

Words like "relationship," "satisfy" and "situation" used on the WASL are confusing to many middle schoolers, Whitright said.

Students have to be trained, he said. "You got to throw (the language) out to them all the time and say things in different ways."

He encourages students to make drawings of the words to help them understand. "When it doubt, sketch it out," is one of the teacher's mottoes.

That's been working for his student Jamie Campbell. "Math is really visual," she said. "You can see how it works."

That's good, Whitright said, saying he understood a math lot better himself "when I got down to teaching it. I had to take it apart to have kids understand."

Say thank you, wrote on Apr 6, 2008 8:24 AM:

" Say thank you President Bush for helping to mess up our schools worse than they already are. While you say thank you you might also tell him not to let the door hit him in the butt as he leaves office. Not everyone gets there daddy to pay off the schools to get passing grades. "

Math Teacher wrote on Apr 6, 2008 8:42 AM:

" Fortunately the state is beginning to see that the fuzzy math they've forced us to teach isn't working. The math curriculum the districts started adopting several years ago are so hard to use and understand that we now supplement with extra materials to help kids. We definitely need an increased focus on memorization of multiplication tables and use of techniques (long division/multiplication) to solve problems. We are all working very hard to help the kids understand. Unfortunately, because it is so hard to understand, many of the kids who struggle with reading also struggle on the WASL. It is hard to show you know how to do math when the wording of the question is so confusing. I'd encourage parents to go to the OSPI website and click on the Assessment link at the top. Find the WASL Released Items and see what this test looks like. I also encourage parents to check in with their child's math teacher to find out what math program is being used. Traditional math education has pretty much been banned so don't expect to see the same types of things you learned when you were in school. Most of all, don't equate your child's intelligence with their WASL score. Most evidence is showing that the WASL is not a true measure of intelligence, learning, or ability. It's only one test. "

Snert wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:33 AM:

" The whole problem can be summed up with a quote from the story "That's hard to come by at home because parents themselves don't understand the material or don't have time." General illiteracy has come home to roost. My parents always helped me with my math and didn't give up until I had it down pat. Today's kids don't have a chance. Any time words like relationship, satisfy and situation are too hard for a middle school kid to understand means we are screwed as a culture. "

Q wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:37 AM:

" I have seen a child learn conversational English in three months. Most of the non-English speakers have had ample time to learn the language. Either they are lazy, or they just don't want to. Either way it should not be the school's problem. "

The Picture wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:40 AM:

" The picture of the teacher and the kid says it all. How could the most talented math teacher in the universe teach a kid who is staring off into space? "

Say thank you? wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:42 AM:

" It wasn't Bush that created decades of ever lowering standards in education. That is a liberal concept. "

rr wrote on Apr 6, 2008 10:03 AM:

" How many times do we have to read about WASL? Same old same old, bla bla bla "

RE: Q wrote on Apr 6, 2008 10:30 AM:

" There is a huge difference between conversational English and academic English. School's use what is called "Formal Register" where as the English Language Learners are only using "Casual Register". Most poor folks will only live in the "Casual Register" realm their entire lives. If a kid's parents are monolingual Spanish then they are at a real disadvantage and probably will have trouble understanding much of what is taught in schools. "

RE: Say thank you? wrote on Apr 6, 2008 10:31 AM:

" Can you please link me to a website that shows how the lowering of standards in education is a "liberal concept". Thanks in advance for posting the link and backing up your post. "

Citizen wrote on Apr 6, 2008 10:32 AM:

" Why on earth would a nation pick its stupidest appointed leader to make decisions for the educational system? Shouldn't teaching itself be done by educators and not politicians? Why do we have a test at all? Is it to make the corporations happy? Why don't we scrap it all and go back to the education methodology of the 1960's, which turned out quite a lot of smart people, and provide to that structure an updated curriculum that would contain the advances in science, math, history, social science. What do you want to turn out of the schools? Drones for the corporations? Or do you want intellectuals that can come up with answers for our nation?

"

It is simple wrote on Apr 6, 2008 10:48 AM:

" I took the time to show my daughter the proper way to solve a math problem. The math taught me in college works perfectly well, thank you. I then explained to her instructor that the "fuzzy math" or "new age" method would not be allowed in my house. As long as the proper answer is achieved and the work shows how you arrived at your answer the rest does not matter. I then told the "administration" that if that was not acceptable I would pull my daughter and home school her. It is amazing what can be done when you threaten the school admins pocketbook. "

To: Q and Say thank you ? wrote on Apr 6, 2008 11:01 AM:

" Q:Apparently you have not reviewed the questions that are on the WASL. They are not written at a conversational level. Not to mention, conversational language is not the same as reading and writing. Each is a different skill, they are linked, but different. Furthermore, these kids did not choose to be in a country where they don't speak the language. They are, however, here to stay. Better to have them educated than to have more ignorant folks running around in our society.

Say thank you?:There is no liberal "concept" to lower standards in education. That is a myth propagated by tens of thousands of uninformed folks who should be helping kids rather than bashing schools. Lowered achievement in education is a direct result of increased drug abuse, crumbling families, divorce, abuse, and a lack of funding. Teachers are continually bombarded by parents who want to see high-standards, but are not prepared to face the reality that when the bar is set high, not all the kids make it. They all want their little "Johnny" to get all A's. Many wealthy, conservatives also pull kids out for long vacations during the school year and then say brilliant things like "can't the teachers just send some worksheets?" Washington State dramatically reduced funding for education during the years of CONSERVATIVE control and under the watch of a liberal self-proclaimed "pro-education" governor. Over time the impact of these cuts magnifies. While conservatives cry out for increased standards, they refuse to fund schools adequately. "

To: It is simple wrote on Apr 6, 2008 11:07 AM:

" There is no need to be a jerk to teachers. Many of them are on your side and don't like the math the way it is. They are being ordered to use the district curriculum whether it works or not. One teacher I know has been reprimanded several times for teaching "traditional" math, because that's what the students needed. I'll never understand why he stays in education and puts up with parents who attack him for doing what he is told to do. If you really care about it, go to the school board. "

TwentySomething wrote on Apr 6, 2008 11:20 AM:

" Good job Board of Education for finally making some useful changes! 'Schooled about everything, but knowledgable about nothing' is not very useful in the real world. "

K wrote on Apr 6, 2008 11:33 AM:

" Snert: I have always been great in math and have loved it my whole life. However, even I don't know what relationship, satisfy and situation mean in the context of math. "

TDN revising history? wrote on Apr 6, 2008 12:07 PM:

" Pres. Bush does not get the blame for WASL or standards (though there is plenty of mud to pitch at him). Current school reform in Washington, with standards, WASL, high-stakes testing, had many groups pushing it along starting in the early 1990's. In 1991 Gov. Booth Gardner created the Governor's Council on Education Reform and shortly thereafter the Legislature started passing ed reform bills. The Washington Business Roundtable had a huge influence on the direction of ed reform. Unfortunately there has been little research to back up the claims that standards and high-stakes testing improve student achievement or produce good schools. "

Just Opt Out wrote on Apr 6, 2008 3:43 PM:

" Another reminder that elementary and middle school students can OPT OUT of WASL with absolutely no personal ramifications. Parents need to take a stand against this biased, unfair, demeaning, developmentally inappropriate, and COSTLY test. It's a shame that our children are denied a solid education in the name of standardization. Childhood is colliding with No Child Left Behind. A TEST SCORE IS NOT AN EDUCATION. Our kids deserve a REAL education...NOT 12 years of WASL prep. just_opt_out@yahoo.com "

Get rid of Bergeson wrote on Apr 6, 2008 3:49 PM:

"
>>>>>State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson said she's confident the new math standards will improve scores on the WASL. More importantly, she said, it will improve math understanding. "

it's not personal...it's business wrote on Apr 6, 2008 3:54 PM:

" To citizen: We have the test, WASL, because Bush instituted the No Child Left Behind Act and our fearless leader, Terry Bergeson shaped a biased test that was HIGHLY supported by the Business Roundtable. The goal is prepare our kids for the global economy and make every single one of them college graduates. It's about money and power and politics. NOT education. This test has ruined education in this state. Teachers are teaching ONLY what they are told to...what is on the test. They are scared their students won't "meet standard," and our principals are getting downright SCARY in how they deal with things. Everyone is stressed, right down to the 3rd grader with a learning disability who is expected to write a 5 paragraph essay on the "best day you've ever spent with your family." Too bad little Susie's dad is in prison, her mom is on crack, and she can't decide which foster family to choose for the test question. (True story, by the way) "

An example of insanity wrote on Apr 6, 2008 3:57 PM:

" 2 years ago a 4th grader in Aberdeen was suspended from school for not answering a test question on the WASL. Tyler Stoken was given a 5-day suspension for "blatant defiance and insubordination." Too bad that principal didn't read the LAW and OSPI policy that legally gives students OR parents the right to opt out... "

A Poem wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:03 PM:

" Once upon a time, a teacher could put her faith in books and in children. The children, Yes! Not Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, Harcourt, not Eli Broad, Bill Gates, Washington Post pundits or New York Times editorialists, Not the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. Once upon a time we could sit and shout, The Children, Yes! Best informants for classroom needs. (Susan Ohanian) "

TO: IT IS SIMPLE wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:11 PM:

" I would love to talk to you about how you handle the fuzzy math homework that comes home with your child. I've been struggling with this for several years....it seems to be a losing battle. We CAN teach our children ourselves...and we should. Supplementing the fuzzy math at home with good old fashioned algorithms is a must...but how many parents even KNOW to do this...? just_opt_out@yahoo.com "

Planned Community Refusal wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:18 PM:

" If anyone else would like to join the community-wide WASL boycott, email me at just_opt_out@yahoo.com : ) I keep reading all these comments by unhappy parents, but it's unclear if they are allowing their children to take the test...or not. "

Be Very Afraid wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:25 PM:

" I'm the commander in chief. I'm also the educator in chief. (President George W. Bush, March 22, 2006) "

Another Bush Quote wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:27 PM:

" "We must ensure our children have the skills to compete and succeed in the increasingly global economy. Meeting this challenge will require us to raise the bar and strengthen No Child Left Behind." (Silver Street Elementary School, New Albany, Indiana, March 2, 2007) "

Let THEM take the test wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:33 PM:

" I suggest we demand that every state legislator, our state superintendent,the governor, every district superintendent,...and, of course, that educational innovator who occupies the White House take the WASL. Those who do not pass after three attempts should resign from their jobs immediately. "

Bush wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:37 PM:

" The Bush administration has no more knowledge about how to improve education in this country than it does about how to win a war in the Middle East or evacuate an American city after a hurricane. "

Question... wrote on Apr 6, 2008 4:55 PM:

" Hello? Our kids have been learning "WASL Math" for the past 12 years now. We're only at a 43% pass rate for the first attempt. The experts say to keep plugging along....add extra classes, tutoring, more drills, more worksheets. So....when "experts" completely makes a mess of things, at what point are they not experts anymore? "

Wake up wrote on Apr 6, 2008 5:05 PM:

" Ask any coach how he or she wins and they will tell you they spend hours on fundementals. You want to send a man to the moon, you don't teach them the new math you build a solid foundation based on Fundementals. Ask your kid to complete a multiplication table, long divide etc.. They will give you the same look as found in the picture. Take away the calculaters and computers and give them pencil and paper! Fire Terry and the rest who promote this stuff. And don't blame Bush, WASL is pure liberal Washington! "

Mother of a Learning Disabled Child wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:13 PM:

" Granted, she attended private schools from K through 5th, but I pulled her out because she was struggling so badly. I have homeschooled her for nearly two years now and she is above grade level in math. How'd I do it? Traditional math curriculum. It saddens me that government schools abandoned what worked for an experiment in new approaches. The children are completely lost when it comes to fundamental math and English. How many know the difference between a direct and indirect object? Or can explain, in general, the concept of Pi? This should be 4th and 6th grade level information. "

Yes, Fire Terry! wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Terry Bergeson WILL be fired...by the citizens who vote her out of office. We should all be very interested in reading up on the people who are running against her. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction isn't typically a popular race, and the only reason Terry keeps getting re-elected is because the voter simply sees she's served a couple terms and assumes she must be doing something right. I think THIS year will be different. In the midst of the frenzy (this is the first year passing sections of the WASL is required for a diploma), people are going to be more interested in the choices. Let's pray this is the case, anyway. We can argue NCLB, DIBELS, the Business Roundtable....but in the end the road to salvaging education in our state will depend on electing someone with common sense. "

STUDENT. wrote on Apr 6, 2008 9:52 PM:

" Well i've made it to Mark Morris, and I am a sophomore now, but in 8th grade, I had Mr. Whitright, and I LOVED his class, as well as all of the other kids in there.
He's a great person, and so is his wife (counselor at Cascade) Mrs. Whitright.
They're awesome, and always there when you need 'em!

Thanks guys!
"

Childerns do learn! wrote on Apr 6, 2008 11:17 PM:

" That's a quote from our illustrious leader, you republican fascist creeps. You people use liberal like a curse word when conservative is the last thing you jerks are. Would a conservative start a war? What in the hell is conservative about that???? People like you are why I had to fight in bulge during World War II. I lost half my left foot. "

To: Children Do Learn wrote on Apr 7, 2008 7:53 AM:

" ....thank you. "

stink wrote on Apr 7, 2008 8:12 AM:

" I think it's funny people say math was working in the 1960s. Schools weren't requried to teach all kids Algebra and Geometry in the 1960s. If a kid didn't get it, they were dumped into general math, personal finance, wood shop etc... We are at a point where over half the 10th graders can do algebra and geometry... I submit to you that in the 1960s we would NOT have had over 25% of 10th graders passing in those subjects. "

Wake up wrote on Apr 7, 2008 9:08 AM:

" RE: to Stink:
In some ways you are correct in the 1960's, student took general math until prepared for higher concepts, then and only then did they advance. They wer not forced into levels to be lost forever as they are today in Washington. However, many went on and got this training at the collegiate level and are highly competent members of society, not pushing pictured buttons at some fast food outlet. Without a common sense fudemental understanding of numbers and math concepts students become lost forever. "

RE: Wake up wrote on Apr 7, 2008 11:41 AM:

" This is stink... and we actually agree more than you would believe.

I think our country looks at Europe and Asia and wants to know why 15 year olds are doing trig and calculus in those areas and only algebra here. The push to accelerate all students has lost many in the dust. I think it's a culture issue where Americans feel entitled to everything and those in less-fortunate countries know they must work for everything they get. I can't see our students performing at the levels of Asian and Eurpoean nations with the lack of importance school is given. I know parents will come on here and say they make it important, but in many countries kids go to school for 6 days a week, they go after school study groups, etc... they don't have sports, drama, groups or the prom to distract them... not saying any of those are wrong, just that the American school culture is not the same as other nations. "

Different Culture wrote on Apr 7, 2008 3:55 PM:

" The leading nations don't even send their kids to school until they're 7 years old. Research is suggesting that if they are beginning when they are a little more emotionally mature, the material will be more appropriate for their developmental stage. If things start off on track...they are likely to keep on track. The US is pushing higher concepts at an earlier age in the name of progress. We have kindergarteners who are burned out on school. Third graders who vomit on their tests. 5th graders being diagnosed with anxiety...and now high schoolers who are dropping out because they are stamped "Did Not Meet Standard." "

Foreign Comparisons wrote on Apr 7, 2008 8:29 PM:

" Comparisons of our education system with those in foreign countries are not equitable. First of all, most other countries do not attempt to educate everyone. They have an ongoing process that weeds out those who don't meet standard. Most of those who get removed go into a trade of some sort. Secondly, schools in foreign countries don't have to put up with the discipline garbage that goes on in our schools. Teachers are no longer allowed to take a firm hand with students. Students who are defiant, violent, vulgar, and disruptive are kept in the schools. These kids create a huge distraction to the learning environment. In Japan, Germany, Singapore, etc... they don't keep those kids around. Third, other countries don't have to put up with unfunded mandates about Special Education that siphon huge parts of the school budget for kids who may not even be disabled. It is now considered a "disability" if you can't do as you are told by authorities (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). If a child is diagnosed that way, no matter what he does, he cannot be suspended from school longer than ten days. Basically, teachers and administrators are strapped with many kids who don't want to work, won't learn, and pick on the kids who want to be there. Then the teachers are told they are doing a poor job in educating the little darlings. If we want to compare scores with other nations we'll have to adopt their policies and get rid of trouble-makers. "

jumbled thoughts wrote on Apr 7, 2008 11:28 PM:

" From my experience (only in India, SE Asia, and urban S. Africa) it's not so much that the schools don't put up with the troublemakers...there just aren't as many troublemakers. Kids from these places don't take education for granted, and realize at an early age that they must work hard and earn good marks. Japan is interesting in that there is so little access to college, it creates a highly competitive atmosphere (and more stress than the WASL could ever dream of causing), that kids are killing themselves if they don't earn scores in the top percentile. I'm not really gung-ho about comparing our kids to the students in other countries in the area of academics...but rather the work ethic we seem to be lacking in our culture of education. Big Business Roundtable folks try to convince us that in order to compete in the "global economy" our kids will all have to have a certain IQ and approach every problem in exactly the same manner. Well, we still need janitors, postal workers, sandwich makers, and most of all...retail sells clerks. Without the clerks, we wouldn't be able to continue shopping, which is the ultimate goal of a good education: graduate college, get a job, spend. "

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