DONNA GARNER ON TEXAS ESC EFFORT TO UNDERMINE MATH EDUCATION:

Isn’t it amazing how one document, Vision Article II – New Learning Standards –http://www.transformtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/article2.pdf — could put so much gobblygook, educationese, content-free, meaningless language into one single document while at the same time ESC 11 avoided the actual content of the Math TEKS which was supposed to be the reason for ESC 11’s holding the teacher training in the first place?

Where does this “Vision” document (link posted above) say one thing about teaching Texas children how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide? Where does the “Vision” document discuss the fact that Texas K-5 students are not to use calculators but are supposed to learn to automaticity the basic math functions?

It raises my hackles to see that Texas teachers were left to study the Math TEKS on their own, but the ESC made sure there was plenty of time to study this “Vision” document full of gobblygook promoted by TASA (Texas Association of School Administrators)!

I can only imagine how frustrated teachers were who had to attend this ESC 11 training. I was one of them for 33 years, and I can honestly say that except for one session provided by a neuroscientist from a major university (who happened to be the husband of an ESC employee), I never learned one single helpful thing from ESC training that was practical for classroom implementation.

When we teachers filled out our evaluations of the ESC sessions after each workshop, we verbalized our frustrations in no uncertain terms; but I feel sure those evaluations, which were supposed to be gathered up and presented as a part of the statewide feedback on ESC’s and presented to the Legislature, “never saw the light of day.” If they had, the ESC’s would not be in place today; and the Sunset Commission would have long ago put the ESC’s out of business.

Here is a link to the Texas Math TEKS — http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter111/index.html.

To read details about how these Math TEKS were developed, please see Niki Hayes’ first-hand account. She was there and served on the Math TEKS writing team: “Tortured language Used To Promote Common Core in Texas” – by Niki Hayes – 12.6.14 —

http://www.educationviews.org/tortured-language-promote-common-core-texas/

These new 2012 Math TEKS and only these should have been ESC 11’s total focus in their 2013 training sessions. They should have spent 100% of their training on these and not on the 21st Century Learning agenda under Vision Article II – New Learning Standards.

What ESC 11 should have done back in 2013 (when Texas was going from the “old” 1997 Type #2 Math TEKS –subjective, constructivist, project-based — and into the “new” Type #1 Math TEKS – traditional, knowledge-based) was to help those math teachers devise a transition plan for their own districts that would have located the gaps in student learning.

Each math teacher attending the ESC 11 training in 2013 should have come away from that training with a clear plan as to what lower-grade-level math skills needed to be taught to the students in higher-grade-levels who had missed the basic skills required in the new Math TEKS. This would have vastly improved students’ chances of eventually being on grade level with the new Type #1 Math TEKS.

Instead, ESC 11 wasted teachers’ precious time by leading them off into the Type #2 “Vision” agenda. Because students’ holes in basic math skills were not plugged, then this set them up for failure on the STAAR/EOC tests based upon the new Type #1 Math TEKS.

The sad thing is that I feel sure ESC 11’s model is what is being used all around the state in the other ESC’s. This is why the Texas Education Agency, the Legislature, and the State Board of Education need to investigate the misguided teacher training that is causing our Texas students NOT to learn what is in the Type #1 TEKS (English / Language Arts/ Reading, Science, Social Studies, Math) as mandated to be taught in all Texas public schools.

When ESC’s are filled with Type #2 advocates who are supposed to be doing the teacher training of the Type #1 TEKS, this is a sure recipe for disaster

Donna Garner

From: ALICE LINAHAN

Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 11:39 PM

Subject: I now have no doubt about what is happening in Texas with the New Math TEKS! It is time to take a stand and STOP what they are doing to our children.

Please see the information below that I received from a PIR request from my local school district (Argyle ISD) on the training for the “New” Math TEKS in Texas by ESC (Education Service Center) 11. Please take note of the mention of the Vision Article II – New Learning Standards promoted by TASA –http://www.transformtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/article2.pdf .

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Mrs. Linahan:

In response to your PIR….

During the summer of 2013, Region XI provided training on the newly adopted TEKS to our Math teachers. The sessions took place at Region XI and the sessions were grouped by grade strand (ie. K-2, 3-5, 6-8). A description of the 6-hour course is below.

Teachers also reviewed and studied the revised TEKS on their own. Project Share (http://www.projectsharetexas.org/) also hosts courses over the newly revised Math TEKS.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions at 940-464-7241, ext. 1006.

Chris Daniel

Assistant Superintendent

Argyle ISD

Introduction to the Revised Mathematics TEKS: New Content, New Opportunities to Learn, K-2 – 005418

Participants will investigate the changes to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics and consider curricular and instructional implications to support teachers and students as they transition to the new math TEKS. Participants will be provided tools to analyze the newly-adopted TEKS to help insure successful implementation for the 2014-2015 school year. They will also look at the vertical alignment of the new TEKS to understand how instruction at each grade level impacts and complements other grades. This session for 21st Century Learning will focus primarily on Vision Article II-New Learning Standards.

Introduction to the Revised Mathematics TEKS: New Content, New Opportunities to Learn, 3-5 – 005420

Participants will investigate the changes to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics and consider curricular and instructional implications to support teachers and students as they transition to the new math TEKS. Participants will be provided tools to analyze the newly adopted TEKS to help insure successful implementation for the 2014-2015 school year. They will also look at the vertical alignment of the new TEKS to understand how instruction at each grade level impacts and complements other grades. This session for 21st Century Learning will focus primarily on Vision Article II-New Learning Standards.

Introduction to the Revised Mathematics TEKS: New Content, New Opportunities to Learn, 6-8 – 005405

Participants will investigate the changes to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics and consider curricular and instructional implications to support teachers and students as they transition to the new Math TEKS. Participants will be provided tools to analyze the newly-adopted TEKS to help ensure successful implementation for the 2014-2015 school year. They will also look at the vertical alignment of the new TEKS to understand how instruction at each grade level impacts and complements other grades. This session for 21st Century Learning will focus primarily on Vision Article II – New Learning Standards.

Donna Garner

Wgarner1@hot.rr.com