Minutes of the meeting held on 12/2/03 at National Cathedral School

Members present: Syamala Chenulu (CHDS), Karen Michalowicz (Langley), Mary Milroy (Sidwell Friends), Ayana Touval (JDS), Art Dejohn (Maret), Doug Adams (SSSAS), Patty Howie (NCS), Harriet Scheuermann (NCS), Andrew Stephens (SSSAS), Betsy Bennett(St Albans), Judy Knight (GDS), Cindy Goldman (Sidwell Friends), Susan Harris (Queen Anne), Kathleen Glines (Edmund Burke), Susan Stern (WES), Margaret Coffey (Bishop Ireton).

The meeting started with self-introductions.

Karen Michalowicz presented the TIMMS research results comparing the US results in math and science with other countries. She gave the members a preview of the PISA test too. The resulting questions were:

1. Does the TIMMS actually measure what mathematicians think is important?

2. Is the US not implementing what it preaches?

3. Is tracking at an early stage helping the students of other countries and giving all students a chance to improve at their own pace?

4. Japanese classes seem to have more student participation than the US-especially in making connections to previously taught material and engaged in analyzing a problem in groups and independently. What are we not doing right?

5. Critiquing lesson study and plan. More interactions between colleagues at the same level and at different levels.

This did bring the conversation to several topics of concern with the need to put forward some points to NCTM for what they are worth.

The concerns were:

1. Why are our average 8^th graders behind those of other countries? At the 4^th grade level they seem to be doing fine and then there is a downward trend.

2. We need more teacher preparation and in-service.

3. Increase instruction time for math.

4. Complex applications should be presented to students from the beginning getting them into the habit of research and analysis.

5. Expectations must be high and there should be competition to get to the next level.

We could try and have Steve Leinwand attend a meeting so that we can put forth some of these concerns to NCTM and see if a change can be made.

The next meeting is on Thursday, February 19 at Jewish Day School and we are hoping for some intelligence on Multiple Intelligence.