Math and the Common Core State Standards

Interesting post, Melissa. Thank you for sharing all the research you did with us – a real time saver for the rest of us :).

Having used all three of the curriculums you mentioned in the post, I guess I would have to say that I trust them to make changes that will not lesson the value of the curriculum. All three are excellent and written with integrity. I don’t feel like that has changed. If they choose to make an update that keeps their curriculums relevant and current for the majority of homeschoolers who are their customers, I can understand that. I hope their businesses continue to thrive.

real quick, and I will try to check this later when I have time, but if I remember correctly (so please don’t quote me in case I’m wrong), when MUS announced their changes, they said that they were not changing up the curriculum, just adding some additional pages to the lessons (which allows them to comply) that would be more like questions on standardized tests, etc. Many of these pages were available on their website as extras already. Check their page to be sure, but I think it’s the same ol MUS, with a bit more. 

What I learned from MUS after emailing back and forth is that they made the following changes, all apply to Primer-Zeta levels:

1. Added content and changed/clarified some explanations in the teachers manuals.

2. Added 1 new workbook page per lesson that covers the elements from Common Core that MUS did not already cover at those ages (because MUS does things in their own sequence). These are application pages so the student is doing math in a slightly different way than a regular practice page.

Why did they do this? Technically, so they could keep their accreditation for those using these materials in the PS system or under PS supervision (like some charter schools).

What It Means if we keep using old manuals:

– We don’t get the improved explanations.

– We don’t have teaching materials or answers for the new workbook page G (the applications/Common Core stuff).

I own all the manuals Primer-Zeta so I’m not upgrading to the new ones. To be honest, my plan is to ignore the new workbook page G completely. If I have a child who wants to do them for fun I’ll let them, but I won’t assign these pages. And yes, some of my children will probably choose to do them for fun. Others will be thrilled to ignore those pages. LOL

I love MUS’s materials. The old manuals will still be compatible with new workbook’s pages A-F(which aren’t new!) and the test booklet. At least for now. Those haven’t changed.

I place no blame upon MUS or the others; as they are just trying to keep their accreditation. It’s the business responding to a government program. Businesses are having to do a lot of that these days in many areas. I will just choose to not use the newer TG, as I always buy used and only purchase new workbooks, that’s all. The info. Tristan and a couple of others have posted is also what I read a few months ago; minor changes, not a complete overhaul.

It’s true that states have lost much of their 10 Amendment sovereignty and are financially indebted due to that-there is a great entanglement; however, some states are trying to pull themselves out of the mess they gotten themselves into. Many states are moving very strongly against CC, as CC by-passed the state legislatures- at least in Ga. they did. We have a Senator who has already pushed forward legislation and our Lt. Gov. is behind it as well and momentum is rising among parents, since in Ga., the populace is generally more conservative and our Gov. is more resistant to federal controls than the previous one (this gov. voted against his own party when he voted against the first TARP under Bush, for example).

So I disagree that contacting your local reps. may be a fruitless endeavor; that depends upon the state, it’s indebtedness, how it “leans” in the Assemblies, having reps. who are willing to stand up against their own party members, and the people’s willingness to push on them, among other things. Same goes for any other area of continued federal pushes in other areas such as healthcare mandates, gun control attempts, etc.

The stronger the states are financially and the more vigilant and educated the people, the better position they are in to resist federal mandates and other unconstitutional entanglements.

On this page is a chart, scroll down to the right, which shows the degree with which various states are handling for or against CC: http://truthinamericaneducation.com/

Thank you Melissa for bringing to everyone’s attention.

What I understand from the info I’ve read on MUS (what we use) is the same as what Tristan said. Their program is not any different for us, we’ll likely skip the G pages as well. 

Plus, schools that are forced to comply with lame government standards can use a solid math program like MUS and the kids will be better off for it.

Claire, your opinion is welcome and won’t be attacked – no one has been personally attacked for their opinions thus far and it’s rare around here anyway.

However, using the word “paranoia” seems disrespectful, as it does diminish the very real concerns people have about – as you mentioned – federal versus state power; as more centralized power has historically lead to further erosion of individual freedom. Additionally, I disagree that it’s about the balance of power alone; people are concerned about educational standards established by educrats and the manner by which they are implemented; parental authority and weakening privacy protections regarding excessive information gathering and/or sharing on children and families; among other things that are not known yet.

Of course, your opinions on whether you are in agreement with CC are yours and I respect that that is your view; we just disagree.

Personally, I would be quite happy for the Federal Dept. of Education to dissolve.

Getting back to the original question: I will use MUS in the same manner as Tristan explained so well.

Blessings to you and yours.