The exasperated adults were attending a special information meeting to introduce them to a new math curriculum for Hillsborough’s sixth through eighth grade students.
By: Donna Lukiw
The looks of exasperation and confusion among the group trying to solve a typical math problem weren’t unexpected for Joanne Krause, but she encouraged them to work through the problem step-by-step.
However, the exasperated people working on the problem weren’t the students who would be learning to solve the problem in class in the upcoming school year, but their parents, who were attending a special information meeting to introduce them to a new math curriculum for Hillsborough’s sixth through eighth grade students.
"How are we supposed to help our kids when we were taught the old way?" one frustrated parent eventually asked Ms. Krause, the school district’s math supervisor.
The new math curriculum called the "Connected Math Project" will use more conceptual approaches to learning math skills rather than procedural approaches that is, homework and lessons will have more story problems than equations to solve.
Ms. Krause explained to the nearly 300 parents at the Hillsborough High School auditorium Tuesday night that the curriculum, developed at Michigan State University, teaches students conceptual understanding, contextual problem solving and a constructive approach.
"It’s being able to come up with ideas on their own," Ms. Krause said. She said this approach should help better prepare students for high-school courses.
"The future of our children is different from our future," Ms. Krause said.
Ms. Krause said the Connected Math Two Project doesn’t only teach formulas and how to easily solve a problem but instead it teaches students strategies and concepts.
"Connected Math takes the time to truly develop concepts," Ms. Krause said. "It’s based on real-world applications."
The program is currently used in several area school districts, including Flemington-Raritan, Readington, Bridgewater, Summit, Teaneck and Millburn, and complements the Everyday Math program used in elementary schools.
The school board approved the purchase of the $130,440 program from Prentice Hall after it was recommended by the district’s math teachers, who will be using it.
"Each teacher was asked to try sections and activities from each program," Ms. Krause said. "And surveys were distributed to teachers and administrators. The teachers are open and excited. They have your children’s best intentions."
Auten Road Intermediate School math content specialist Amy Ossi said the students will be working either individually, in pairs, in small groups or occasionally as a whole class.
"The teachers will be going around and observing individual performance," Ms. Ossi said. "The teachers will guide students in refining strategies."
While Ms. Krause stressed the program will still use the traditional equation-solving approach to teaching the math skills, a greater emphasis will be placed on getting the students to understand the concepts behind the equations in order to teach ways of thinking and reasoning.
"It’s important that those students are active in the classroom," Ms. Krause said during the meeting. "It’s not sit back, watch and listen anymore."
To help demonstrate the new approach, the parents were asked to find the area of a square, causing many to get frustrated. Some said they don’t know how they’ll be able to help their children with their math homework.
As the crowd grew increasingly restless, Auten Road Intermediate School Principal Hal Blackstone urged the parents to be patient as they learn the new concepts, too.
"You need to look at it in a different way," Mr. Blackstone said. "I’m just asking you to keep an open mind. Don’t confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time."
The program will accelerate learning for most students for example, Ms. Krause said students in eighth grade will have already completed Algebra One and will be prepared for high-school math.
Students’ GEPA scores, exam average, marking-period average, final grade in the eighth grade course and teacher recommendation will determine where the students are placed in the ninth-grade math curriculum.

