NCTM & NSES

The NCTM and the NSES standards are similar in several ways. As I am the final contributor to this blog,many of my observations have already been recorded. As Bryn also noticed, both sets of standards use action verbs. Our math text book brought up this comparison as well, stressing the importance of teaching math as a science- a subject that needs to be understood and not simply completed. Along this same line, is another similarity, that both sets of standards focus on understanding an comprehending the idea presented. Too often, especially in math, kids are taught how to answer problems by completing a formula and as a result, the student never fully understands the concept.

The math standards are more specific than the science standards. They not only give you the standard, but they explain it, and then give you some of the reasoning behind it. People generally are happier following guidelines if they know the reasoning behind it, so including a rationale for the standards is a good idea.

Both sets of standards are clearly stated. They stress comprehension, problem solving, something that was not stressed when I was in elementary school. I dreaded math when I was little; it was all drill and rote instruction. I think these standards will help more students have a positive experience with both math and science.