Didn’t Liz, (our minister of ed) work as a professor of computer science or something similar?
Judging from her age, she got drill, and repetition in math basics, which she should be thankful for since she would have needed some university math in order to go into the technical stream. 

But of course politics trumps integrity, so she’ll allow this inefficient, math curriculum in Ontario to continue to be in classrooms, despite the fact that it causes many children to fail at math.

During recent contract negotiations, our minister of ed also allowed another pd day to be given to elementary teachers; yet seems to think that more time needs to be dedicated to math in the classroom.  So,  according to Liz:  less time in the classroom because of yet another pd day, but more time ‘discovering’ math in the classroom.  Go figure…

Exactly Malkin.

So back in the day, when math was actually being taught properly (and enough of you naysayers saying no it wasn’t. No it wasn’t.  We have enough data and evidence to suggest math instruction was MUCH better than it is TODAY.  Look it up!), the amount of instructional time was LESS than it is today.  I guess building “projects” in math class takes up more time than reviewing times tables. This is akin to telling someone to eat more junk food rather than a smaller, well portioned healthy meal. 

And this line in the report really says it all: 

“The renewed math strategy is informed by research and lessons learned from the education sector.”

Okay well, the research from the education sector is what’s gotten us into trouble in the first place because they HAVE no empirical data they rely on.  And the education consultant and ed professors which carry out their messages, are THE REASON behind poor math skills today. 

This is a terrific blog entry by Greg Ashman. 

The comments at the bottom of this article are rather telling as well:

https://gregashman.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/ed-schools-versus-consultants/

This is nothing more than a way to appease taxpayers that the government is doing something to appease the math crisis in Ontario. 

What a complete waste of money.

The Ministry has posted their guide “Doing Mathematics with Your Child” in English and 13 other languages.  https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/parentGuideNum.html

Hard for me to judge, but I think this thin guide is about worthless.  Parents who are already engaged in teaching their child will find it superficial, and the rest won’t get through the self-congratulatory introductions.  There are no drills or worksheets or anything that looks like foundation skills.

Ontario’s dropping math (and literacy) scores have a direct causal link to life-long under-employment and marginalization.  It’s too late to help the older kids still counting on their fingers.  But never too late for a happy press release attached to another bucket of money.

Just a reiteration of what Malkin has already said, but I also like the way Robyn said it

http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/robyn-urback-ontario

I looked at the education ministry’s website.  Granted, it was good of them to publish it in 13 languages, but I was angered when it stated that the more parents help their children, the better they will do in math…

Hello? 
What about the parents who don’t understand math?  What about parents who are so darned tired after putting in an eight hour day at work, and have to come home, cook supper, clean, do laundry, and then tutor their kids in math? 
And what about the parents who may not be interested in their children’s struggles with math?

Our education system is for all children; not the ones whose parents can afford tutoring or happen to have the time, energy, patience and knowledge to work with their children.  As a taxpayer, I want all children to have a chance, so why does the ministry tell us that we’re largely responsible for the education of our children?

For years, I was stuck teaching my daughter math, because of negligence at the school, but I was fortunate enough to only be working part-time.

When my husband and I were in school, neither of us needed a single evening of math tutoring from our parents.  Back in our day, the teachers had a good math syllabus, and they worked hard.  Because I was fortunate enough to have been well-taught, math was always a breeze, so consequently I always got in the high 90’s—right from grade one to graduation.

My husband like many others from working poor families (I know of many) got an excellent education.  He went on to be a chemist—the sciences are the toughest courses at the university level.  His parents (whom I had a great deal of respect for) had neither the language skills nor the ability in the maths to have helped him.  He relied totally on the educational system. 

Today, our educational system is not doing its job, and they want to pass what is their responsibility onto parents.  This is not what we’re paying for. 

Quit unloading your work onto the parents! 

Two years ago, Minister Sandals announced millions for math training for teachers. Paid off didn’t it?  Another concern is that there is NO accountability for how this money is spent.  Will the teachers’ unions do inservicing? Waste of money by all accounts.