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Friday, June 27, 2008
When 1 + 1 = poor math teachers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A new report says elementary school students struggle in math because their teachers didn’t get strong enough training in college.
The National Council on Teacher Quality says only 13 percent of undergraduate education schools require enough relevant math coursework for future elementary teachers.
The group looked at 77 education schools in 49 states. University of Georgia was singled out as an exemplary program. But the report says Georgia College and State University needs to make students take more math courses.
The report suggests Georgia and other states copy Massachusetts where future teachers take at least three courses in foundations of mathematics, algebra, geometry and data analysis tailored to what future elementary school teachers need.
Do you think Georgia should make teachers take more math courses in college? Does improving a teacher’s knowledge of math make that person a better teacher or are there other areas the state must address?
