A major two-year study found that student teachers in England had a weaker grasp of maths than trainees in nations such as China, Japan, Ireland, Finland and Russia.
Would-be primary and secondary school teachers were ranked second from bottom overall in an independent analysis of England’s economic competitors, it was disclosed.
David Burghes, professor of mathematics education at Plymouth University, who wrote the report, said trainees in England “could clearly do much better”.
The study recommended raising the bar on the minimum qualifications students need to train for the classroom.
The comments will fuel concerns that England risks falling behind other countries because of relatively poor understanding of mathematics.
It follows the publication of a hugely critical study in December that showed UK teenagers were ranked 28th in the world for maths.
Tags: Maths, Maths SkillsState Board of Education Proposes Higher Standards
The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval today to new standards for accrediting Missouri’s public schools. The revised policy will go into effect two years after adoption of the proposed standards.
Missouri’s standards for its schools have been reviewed and revised over time to reflect changing conditions, as well as changing demands of citizens and school patrons, state education officials said.
“We cannot be successful if we continue to use the same standards as we have in past generations, said State Board President Peter Herschend. “We believe the rigorous new standards will help all students be ready for success in college and careers by the time they graduate from high school.”
Some of the criteria did not change, but others were made more specific or rigorous to drive improvement in student achievement. The propo
Tags: Higher Standards, Proposes Higher, Proposes Higher Standards, StandardsBy the end of primary education, pupils start to shun relatively difficult texts in favour of more straightforward alternatives suitable for younger children, research found.
Academics from Dundee University analysed children’s reading habits throughout primary and secondary education and found the difficulty of books “declined steadily” from the age of 10 onwards.
It emerged that The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a classic picture book by Eric Carle which charts a caterpillar’s week-long transformation into a butterfly, was one of the most popular books among 14- to 16-year-old girls in England.
The disclosure came as a separate study revealed classics such as Wuthering Heights and To Kill a Mockingbird had dropped out of a list of the top 10 most popular books for teenagers in a generation.
Read more…
Tags: Shun, Shun ToughWhitney is a Master of Science in Accountancy candidate, and one of our newest guest bloggers. I find that the most interesting guest posts come from this program, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. If youre a new reader, you may want to see what Lisle had to say about the program and what King Street has to offer. Then, learn more about Whitneys experience in the program below.
Already half way through my second semester as a MSA (Master of Science in Accountancy) student, I am already getting sad that these days will soon be over. Moving to a new city (from Raleigh), not knowing a single soul, and beginning this new chapter of my life has made me so much more independent. I just can’t believe it has flown by SO fast!!
Although I am working in PWC-Atlanta’s tax practice after graduation, the flexibility of the program allows us to branch out and take whichever classes we want. This
Tomorrow is the Graduate Student Associations annual spring oyster roast. If you havent purchased your tickets, you can get them at the door for $15 if youre a student, $20 if youre the average Joe. Tickets include all you can eat oysters and the ticket sales will benefit the Charleston Parks Conservancy. There will be other food options available for non-oyster lovers, including vegetarians. So, bring your shuckers and well see you at OMalleys at 5:00.
If youre new to Charleston and feeling out of the loop on whats going on downtown this weekend, allow me to introduce you to the 29th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Folks round here call it SEWE. If you have an affinity towards animals, you will definitely want to participate in this three-day event showcasing experts, artists and exhibitors in wildlife and nature art, as well as conservation research and environmental education. Passes start at $20 for a day pass. If you want a pass for the whole weekend, that will cost you $40. For more information, visit the SEWE website or pick up a copy of the Charleston City Paper.
Tags: Exposition, Southeastern Wildlife, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, Wildlife ExpositionThe ten minute test, in which children will read out up to 40 words to a teacher, will include a series of real and made-up words.
Nonsense words including zort, koob, dar, grint, pronk, gax and ploob are expected to feature in the test, which will be piloted in June before being tolled out in June 2012.
The idea has drawn criticism from literary and phonetics experts, however, who say the approach will confuse those beginning to read.
The UK Literacy Association described the plan was “bonkers” as the purpose of reading was to understand meaning.
The government said non-words were being included to check pupils’ ability to decode words using phonics – the reading system by where words are sounded out using letter sounds.
Non-words were being included to check that children were not just regurgitating memorised words, a spokesman for the Department for Education said. <
Tags: Test, Test Six