Debbie

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Home : 2002 : February : 24

Debbie
By Elaine

Hi Debbie,

I've been off the Boards for quite some time and am glad to find you are still here!!!!!!!!!

I read a few of those posts about people hating the Trailblazer series and was troubled. I am a part of a math initiative
(Math Academy) in our state (actually to improve middle school math), and everything we do is closely aligned with the NCTM Principles and Standards. The NSF (National Science Foundation) matierials that we love (also called reform curricula) include Trailblazer and Terc Investigations at the elementary level. I wonder if the people who hate it have had sufficient training or

were they just given the books and told they HAD to teach from them? I don't know if we can determine that a transformation in math ed. is occuring based on some posts from people who hate Trailblazers and advocate a "traditional mathematics" program. What do you think?

As a teacher learner, I am still most interested in improving the way I teach writing and reading. I am saying goodbye to my 5th graders and getting my new 4th graders in the fall. I so excited about having this Board available all summer long (when most of us will have more time). I want to be ready to actually implement the GR & W approach from day-one. It is exciting to me to think how far I can take my students in two years if I am ready when the first year starts.

I hope no one is disappointed that we don't have more time to discuss the book in more detail. Let's all hang in there, do what we can for the rest of this year by implementing what fits, don't beat ourselves up for not being able to do more, and then be ready and firmly grounded in the GR & W approach for next fall!!!!!!!! What do you say?

Elaine