The New Maplewood Math — iPods in the Classroom?
The K-5 math curriculum supervisor and specialist for the South Orange-Maplewood School District will be presenting new iPod math instruction apps and discuss other math curriculum in the elementary schools.
Photos
The day has come when even electronic calculators may seem as old-school as an abacus to young students.
Now, 5th graders in the South Orange-Maplewood School District are utilizing iPod Touches to learn and improve their math skills.
Want to learn more about it?
The South Orange-Maplewood School District is hosting two "Math Nights" for parents of students in grades kindergarten through 5 math. The programs are titled, "iPods, Individualization, & Innovation" and are being held on Tuesday, May 3, at Jefferson School and Wednesday, May 4, at Seth Boyden School. Both programs will begin at 7:30 p.m.
All district parents are encouraged to participate.
According to a release from the school district's Director of Communications Judith Levy, "The presentation will address math curriculum needs identified by staff and the independent audit completed in 2010. K-5 Supervisor of Math & Science, Kimberly Beane, will explain the district's multi-year plan for curriculum change, and K-5 Math Specialist, Katie Costello, will share iPods and math apps being piloted this year."
This may be one meeting where staff do not ask parents to turn off their electronic devices!
And, we're assuming, no apps for Angry Birds will be loaded onto the Touches.
In This article
-
Jefferson School
518 Ridgewood Rd, Maplewood, NJ -
Seth Boyden Elementary School
274 Boyden Ave, Maplewood, NJ
Nick Muson
1:59 pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Another leg-up for the kids whose parents can afford expensive trinkets?
Mary Mann
4:20 pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011
No, Nick. They're provided in the classroom to the students. They belong to the school district. We'll find out more tomorrow.
Nick Muson
4:34 pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Then I stand corrected -- thanks Mary
Ken Houghton
8:03 am on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Looked up the iPod touch. Doesn't seem well-suited for classroom use. (The video and telephony aspects will, presumably, be blocked.)
Is Apple paying for this test?
A
9:53 am on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
all the kids need more electronics, OY
tbd
2:07 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011
I recommend that parents attend one of these meetings before passing any judgment. The Ipods are being used as one part of the additional math instructional period being introduced by the district. In addition to the regular math instructional time there are 2-3 smaller period of math instructional time per week. During this additional instructional period about a third of the class is working on the Ipods. With them they can use the various apps to practice proficiency at basic math facts within the curriculum; i.e. multiplication tables. The district has found that many students need additional work with these skills. There are also more advanced problem solving apps to stretch the kids math thinking. Obviously the teacher guides individual students based on their specific needs.
Responses to the Math Audit and the procedure for selecting a math program to align with the new national standards was also discussed.