Cave Creek Unified, here is your new middle school math textbook, complete with cartoons

 

The opaque K-8 Math Textbook Adoption Committee finally lets the parents and the community know what is going on behind its unadvertised doors by revealing its new 6-8 math textbook selection.

While we applaud its focus on fewer topics and emphasis on the NCTM Focal Points, the newly selected middle school math textbook, BIG IDEAS MATH, leaves a great deal to be desired, like its overuse of pedagogical humor. 

“Big Ideas Learning will show you how cartoons can be used to help teach mathematics, increase student interest, and increase student retention.

Presentation of more than 170 original math cartoons organized by subject, such as fractions, decimals, algebra, and probability.”

[Note to BIG IDEAS authors, 3/2 is not a fraction, it is called an improper fraction]

In addition to the unnecessary use of humor for 14 year olds, there seems to be little alignment with GO MATH!, the K-5 selection, no room for an advanced math track (no Algebra until high school?, so it looks like if CCSS doesn’t support it, Cave Creek Unified will not), and BIG IDEAS MATH is a new program with no proof of success.

BIG IDEAS MATH and GO MATH! are clearly not textbooks that will allow our students to compete globally (see how poor US students are doing in math here) or in the 21st Century.  The path of mediocrity for CCUSD students is now set in stone for the next 6 to 10 years.

Well, at least they can enjoy the comic strips along the way.