Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i39FRtm26336; Fri, 9 Apr 2004 11:27:55 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2004 11:27:55 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <e6.4bf6ea07.2da81a12@aol.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: MWPotts2001@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2733] More Math, Please! X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: 9.0 for Windows sub 5015 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Status: O Content-Length: 1765 Lines: 41 Colleagues, As I read the following article taken from the PEN Weekly Newsblast for 4/9/04, I recalled the 23 year old young woman I observed a couple of weeks ago in her adult education class. She was struggling with subtraction, using plastic manipulatives as well as her fingers. As she wrote her answers on the worksheet, she looked up at me and said, *This is the first time anyone helps me." I have talked with many adult educators who are, themselves, uneasy with math and how to teach those who struggle with basic computation. As one of the EFF Standards, Use Math to Solve Problems and Communicate has assumed center stage with National Facilitators trained to offer assistance. The draft of the EFF Math Performance Continuum is in use in several states and programs. Contact Diane Gardner at the EFF National Center in Knoxville for information on how to get started yourself. Her number is 865-974-9949. PUBLIC WANTS MORE MATH, NOT LESS A new bicoastal public opinion poll reveals a public that wants more math, not less. According to the poll, the pop-culture notion of widespread "math phobia" -- an American public that is largely intimidated by mathematics -- may hold less truth than is generally believed. Only 14% of the 1000 adults surveyed by the study acknowledge having a fear of math, and an overwhelming 85% agree that, because today’s economy is more complex and technology-oriented, having math skills is important. The survey, called "More Math, Please" is a new bicoastal public opinion poll that challenges some popular myths and stereotypes surrounding math. http://www.massinsight.org/docs/moremathplease_release.doc All the Best, Meta Potts, Moderator 4-EFF List Glen Allen, VA mwpotts2001@aol.com
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