Archive for October, 2008
October 29th, 2008
by Beth in Math fun, Math in Real Life, Math Learning, Parent Tips, Teaching Math
How a Thanksgiving Visit Can Teach 1-to-1 Correspondence
Grandma and Grandpa were coming for a visit, so I revisited my mini-library of favorite classroom books to read with my young son. He was very excited about the visit, especially after reading The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. He was particularly interested in where Grandma and Grandpa would sleep. Together we identified all of the beds in the house.
October 28th, 2008
by Sarah in Math in Real Life, Public Education
Would Better Math Education Have Prevented Our Financial Crisis?
Someone recently asked me whether better math education would have avoided our current financial crisis. My immediate response was, "Unfortunately, no!".
October 27th, 2008
by Sue in Math fun, Parent Tips
Have a Little Fun, Practice French and a Little Math
On a day when I didn’t really have any time to goof off, I just found more than an hour of free time I didn’t think I had. That’s thanks to the Mostly Mommies blog (http://mostlymommies.blogspot.com/) which recently mentioned http://gomath.ch/jeux/index.php, a French site with free educational games.
October 22nd, 2008
by Sue in Parenting
How Families Limit "Screen Time"
We had about 25 children in the DreamBox office over the last few weeks, beta testing the upcoming version of our online math learning product, DreamBox Learning K-2 math.
October 19th, 2008
by Lou in Life at DreamBox Learning, Start-up Culture
Working Toward Personal Obsolescence
Dear DreamBox Co-owners,
We stand ready to ship our 4th Beta in less than a year. An astonishing milestone, yet no heads swell among you. Instead, and with the same brute, elegant, and humble spirit that got you here, you turn your attention once again to shipping, learning, fixing, testing, planning, cutting, building, testing, and shipping anew.
October 17th, 2008
by Sarah in Learning Research, Math Anxiety, Math Learning, Parent Tips
One Reason US Students Are Falling Behind in Math
We've had a lively discussion in our office this week about the recent New York Times article on issues in US math education in general, and in encouraging girls to be successful in math in particular...
October 16th, 2008
by Sue in Learning Research, Online Learning, Parent Tips
How Young Is Too Young to Begin Computer Learning Games?
I know parents wonder what’s the appropriate age for their children to begin learning to use the computer. Common sense dictates that there’s probably an age at which it’s too early to begin exposing children to computers, even though children are often attracted to it quite young because they see family members using it...
October 14th, 2008
by Sue in Learning Research, Online Learning, Parenting
Advertising Aimed at Young Children Online
I had the opportunity to talk with a number of parents over the last few weeks while their children were in the office testing the upcoming version of our math learning adventures, DreamBox Learning K-2 Math. And as we often hear, many wise parents told me they limit “screen time” for their children.
October 13th, 2008
by Lou in Parent Tips, Public Education
In Pursuit of the Right Kind of Homework
Let me begin by encouraging you to read this Washington Post article on the failings of homework. For those who want the CliffsNotes, the net is that rote, unimaginative, repetitive, grinding and brutally boring homework doesn’t help. To the contrary, it actually hurts students across several fronts.
October 7th, 2008
by Sue in Learning Research, Math in Real Life, Public Education
Standardized Tests: Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?
Recently I wrote about one of the key issues in the recent Bellevue teacher strike: the mandated scripted curriculum. But this is a complex issue and I think there’s a larger point to be made about this: the connection between the standardized curriculum and standardized testing.
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