Winning the Math Wars: No Teacher Left Behind

Preface

vii Preface Winning the MathWars is the product of intensive research into the math education debate in the State of Washington, the United States, and the world. Researchers at the Washington School Research Center (WSRC) reviewed the current literature , summarized their own research, conversed with experts who hold widely differing opinions about the issues, and explored the various curricula proposed for improving math education. In the end, we have reached our own tentative conclusions about the additional empirical research needed into the teaching of mathematics. We also reached a conclusion about the extent to which math reform has been implemented in the United States and the places where support and new policies may be helpful. Readers will not find a strong argument either in favor of traditional math education or in favor of a complete transformation of math education. We do believe that the debate over curricula, whether traditionalist, reform-based or constructivist , or ethnomathematical, must take second place to a discussion about the kinds of support and education that math teachers need in order to present any curriculum more effectively. ...