Math STARS

Sorry If I have been a little sparse in my writing over the last two weeks. I have been very busy at school as we were "chosen" to take part in a controversial new math program this school year.

Houston Independent School District (HISD) was selected to take part in an experiment that Harvard University is running. Fifty elementary school's will be taking part in the program which is called Math Stars.

So far, the program seems great. It is supplemental to whatever curriculum your school is using and automatically differentiates based on student needs. The program generates students' homework for every night. The student scans their homework each morning and then the computer will grade it, provide the student with information as to how they did, and then print them homework for the next evening. If the student did well, they will move on and have new homework, if the student did poorly, the program will automatically give them more practice problems of the topic they struggled on and mix in the new assigned topics (assigned by me).

*The experiment will provide my classroom with a brand new computer, laser printer, and the scanner that is needed to use for the students homework. It is exciting to get a new computer in the classroom because I will be able to use it for this program, but also because it will be available for the students to use during tutorials, science, and whenever else we are able to use computers.

Of the fifty schools selected, twenty-five will be providing their students and parents with financial incentives. The goal of the study, as stated to us during a meeting at HISD headquarters, was to study student motivations when financial incentives are in place. Here is the financial breakdown.

STUDENTS = Possibility of making $500
$2 per objective mastered (up to $400 because there are 200 objectives)
$100 bonus for completing all 200 objectives

PARENT/GUARDIANS = Possibility of making $560
$2 per objective mastered by student (up to $400 because there are 200 objectives)
$20 per meeting with teacher (up to $160 because they are to meet with me once a month for 8 months)

It is a very interesting study. Initially I was very against the program, which I didn't really have much of a choice of implementing. I don't think it is right to pay students for doing what they are "supposed" to be doing as students and paying parents for doing what they are "supposed" to be doing as parents. I was also very concerned as to how this will effect my students' performance long-term, as they most likely will not be getting paid to do school work ever again after this year (well other than indirectly - scholarships).

We have had two parent meetings this week after school and not one question was brought up regarding moral implications or what will happen to the students in the long term. The only concerns we have had from parents were questions regarding when they will get the money (payday is once a month), and some concerns about not wanting to do the program due to a lack of "papers" (none of the parents will be asked about citizenship and everyone will be able to participate, regardless).

Since I don't have much say regarding my feelings on this program, I haven't taken a lot of time to worry about it. I also really haven't had much time to worry about it, as I have been reading, going to trainings, and meeting with parents everyday since we found out we were implementing this program. We will be starting on Monday, with an online diagnostic test that will provide the program with an individual starting point for each student.

Is this a long term solution for education? I don't really think so, but it will be interesting to see the effects of the program and how my students' react. It is also interesting to be part of a national study on educational reform and motivation. I am sure you will see reports on this in the news in days/weeks/months to come. It is a big deal in Houston right now.

Here is more information about the program from the Houston Chronicle:
"HISD Families Could Get Up To $1,020 If Kids Master Math"

Take care,
- Joe