Choices!

This may sound a little like venting but I truly don't mean it to.  We have recently adopted a national publisher for grades 3-5 mathematics.  I love the program because it provides us with strong number sense building blocks but force fluency.  This program does an excellent job with remediation but as with all programs, it does an OK job of enrichment and thinking mathematically.  

Therefore we are doing what anyone would do with a "program."  We are making it our own.  We are adding pieces such as Mathematical Thinking, true DOK 3 Enrichment and pieces called Writing to Learn.  This can be found under the Mathematical Tasks link on the right (it is a new page - there is not a lot there yet).  We are also reorganizing our assessments to be truly standards based and having the ability to determine if a student understands and can demonstrate understanding at the standard level (3) or above the standard level (4).

So, as we unveil these modifications I continually hear, "Why did we buy the program if it wasn't good enough?"  I just want to ask "What does it mean to be good enough?"  Does it mean that we cannot make it better?  Does it mean that we will accept a base level of understanding?  Does it mean that we will accept the results we get even though we know we can do better because we can customize to our own students?  

We are producing these options because they provide us with true differentiation in the classroom.  Teachers can choose how best to meet the needs of their different learners without having to create the resources.  Most of the enrichment in this program is decent - but too scaffolded.  We just tear it apart.  Nationally based programs serve as a foundational program.  They are something to build off of not something that should be the "holy grail" of math.  They are not designed for that.  They are designed to meet the needs of as many districts as possible making sure they hit all the "Hot words" that are in education at this time.  Our job is to turn these programs into something outstanding.  Basically, don't screw up what they have but make it better.

So for all those out there saying "why are we changing" the answer is "Why not!"  Its whats best for kids!