Comments on: Learning Math, Ready or Not http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/12/learning-math-ready-or-not.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Thu, 24 May 2012 12:24:42 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Margo http://www.showmedaily.org/2009/12/learning-math-ready-or-not.html/comment-page-1#comment-4512 Margo Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:04:24 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=10446#comment-4512 Everyone applauds the development of effective instructional programs like Building Blocks, which was more than seven years in the making with massive funding. But I'm not sure why we would compare it to kindergarten-readiness assessments. Building Blocks was for pre-kindergarteners who were not necessarily considered "unready." It certainly accelerated their mathematics learning, but it did not address other academic subjects or school behavior. Even indirectly, Building Blocks does not address literacy, since it is delivered through activities featuring oral responses and manipulatives, I think there is confusion between an assessment that is meant as a snapshot for readiness, and an assessment that is intended to measure subjects that are taught. No one thinks that teaching children to tie their shoes directly prepares them to learn to write; but tying shoes is an easy way to measure eye-hand coordination as well as a child's practical ability to manage on his or her own in a classroom. The same is true of being able to sit for an hour. Of course school districts should seek out the best instructional interventions as they become available. And they should use the most valid and reliable methods to screen students for kindergarten readiness, again as these become available. The two should be seen as mutually supportive, not mutually exclusive. Everyone applauds the development of effective instructional programs like Building Blocks, which was more than seven years in the making with massive funding. But I’m not sure why we would compare it to kindergarten-readiness assessments. Building Blocks was for pre-kindergarteners who were not necessarily considered “unready.” It certainly accelerated their mathematics learning, but it did not address other academic subjects or school behavior. Even indirectly, Building Blocks does not address literacy, since it is delivered through activities featuring oral responses and manipulatives,

I think there is confusion between an assessment that is meant as a snapshot for readiness, and an assessment that is intended to measure subjects that are taught. No one thinks that teaching children to tie their shoes directly prepares them to learn to write; but tying shoes is an easy way to measure eye-hand coordination as well as a child’s practical ability to manage on his or her own in a classroom. The same is true of being able to sit for an hour.

Of course school districts should seek out the best instructional interventions as they become available. And they should use the most valid and reliable methods to screen students for kindergarten readiness, again as these become available. The two should be seen as mutually supportive, not mutually exclusive.

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