As an educator I know that math departmentalization is an excellent idea. The essential concepts that must be mastered in the primary levels of math, or the “domains,” need to be taught to students, not rushed to students within some constructed block of time.

It should be presented as proposed so there is more time given to scaffolding in the learning process. Literacy and social studies should also be presented in the same way. There are too many subjects for one educator to effectively teach on the elementary school level.

Debra Fields, IS 162, Bronx
(via Facebook)
 

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There are many teachers who do not feel confident teaching math. Departmentalizing and having a dedicated specialist is the way to go.

Melissa Toribio, PS 531, Bronx
(via Facebook)
 

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This shows a lack of trust in 5th-grade teachers to teach math. I taught all the subjects because I could and should! That is what good teaching is ... doing the job and doing it well. Do I like the idea of departmentalizing? No, I don’t. The children are too young, and math is a subject that takes time. Do it well, and they will be prepared later on.

Renee Fineberg, retired
(via Facebook)
 

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Teachers who teach the upper grades of elementary school should know the content. I would prefer content competency of the teachers rather than shifting 10-year-old students from teacher to teacher for two reasons: 1. Some 10-year-olds benefit from having only one teacher; 2. A teacher competent in math can bring that into other content areas as happens in “real life.”

Elementary school teachers who are clueless in math are unacceptable, but allowing them to remain clueless and doing a workaround to fix the situation is not the way to go, in my opinion.

Barbara Kay Koontharana, retired
(via Facebook)