Comments on: Math meets art, music, and pop culture

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:18:47 +0000

Which picture?

By: TFT

TFT — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:06:53 +0000

That is a picture of of BUSD teacher Matt Lipner. He’s awesome too.

By: Eve

Eve — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:37:14 +0000

Westlake Middle has Geometry for some 8th graders too. New this year (I think) is the 6 week “math lab” for 6th graders likely to take the usual 8th grade algebra class next year as 7th graders. My daughter (who’s historically not a math-lover) really likes Mr. Beem who’s teaching the lab. He has them outside measuring angles of basketball poles and other fun hands-on activities. So many creative teachers at Westlake.

By: Teaches at Oakland School

Teaches at Oakland School — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:40:08 +0000

Montera has been teaching Geometry for years

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:35:53 +0000

I’m not sure about your broader questions, but there are a number of math teachers at Willard — eight or so who teach math as one of their subjects. From the school’s staff roster, it looks like three of them taught eighth-grade or Algebra in 2010-11, and there was at least one other teacher who taught sixth-grade math. Maybe two. Not sure about 2009-10, though, when the seventh-graders you referenced (via 2011 scores) would have been in sixth grade.

By: livegreen

livegreen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:32:01 +0000

Of course not all students need to take Geometry in 8th Grade to be successful in math. However the 48% of Willard 7th graders Mick mentioned passed the general math test lead to some questions:

-Were they all Mr. MacCarthy’s students, and if not how did his compare to the others?;
-How did the kids grades compare to either their math grades the previous year?;
-How have the test results on the general math tests compared over a longer time line, as Mr. MacCarthy implemented his program.

It is, of course, also desirable to see the kids in the middle excel and to see kids who otherwise be disinterested in math become enthused by math and studies, as well as gain confidence in their academic abilities.

That might not be good enough for the excelling students, but it’s definitely great for the kids at basic & below basic AND for society at large.

Keep up the kids enthusiasm Mr. MacCarthy!

By: Mick,

Mick, — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:55:19 +0000

Katy,

No one said the story was about geometry.It is about Mr. MacCarthy’s unconvential approach to teaching math; however, the data does not sujest his approch is that effective overall at the school.

There are a high percentage of students at the school not takeing the state math test. This is not your point of the story; however, it is part of the story on student data relating to the CST.

Keep up your good work. It has us sharing our perspectives on your stories.

By: Katy Murphy

Katy Murphy — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:39:50 +0000

I don’t follow the logic here. If just three eighth-graders at the school were tested in geometry, sounds like the school doesn’t (or didn’t) offer the course to eighth-graders. How can a teacher improve the geometry results when none existed? I thought Oakland teacher was simply noting that MacCarthy is not a geometry teacher, which is true! The story was not about geometry, either, but we somehow got onto the subject.

By: Mick,

Mick, — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:27:37 +0000

katy,

Oakland teacher is indeed correct. At Willard 94% of the 6th graders took the “General Math” state test and 63% passed.

Only 84% of their 7th graders took the gerneral math test and 48% passed.

They only had 3 8th graders who took the Geometry state test. It does not indicate how many passed.

So much for “MacCarthy’s unconvential approach to teaching mathmatic.” Maybe he should try the convential approach to improve the students Geometry results.

In Oakland, we have schools that doing a much better job.

By: Seenitbefore

Seenitbefore — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:56:38 +0000

even Claremont offers Geometry for 8th graders who meet the criteria…. not that unusual…..