For the first time since 2001, local educators are in the process of evaluating a new list of state-approved Kindergarten through eighth grade math textbooks to decide which ones they’ll use and how, if at all, the books would fit into their curriculums.
The list includes 41 new math textbooks—including versions of books developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education and one developed by the UCLA Math Department—that the California State Board of Education included in its recent Mathematics Primary Adoption.
The textbooks that were developed by Singapore’s Ministry of Education helped students there earn first-place rankings in three widely cited studies of student math performance conducted in 1995, 1999, and 2003, Jeffery Thomas, president of the textbooks’ North American distributor, SingaporeMath.com, Inc., said in a press release.
If adopted, the textbooks would become core curriculum programs that can be bought with state funds and meet state math standards.
The state Board of Education released its list of adopted titles, including the Standards Edition series published by Singapore-based Marshall Cavendish International, after receiving a list of recommended textbooks from the state’s Curriculum Commission.
The state’s complete list of adopted K-8 math titles is available online at www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/im/mathprogramnov2007.asp.
Parents can contact their children’s schools to offer input during the process.
This article appears in Jul 17-24, 2008.
