Math and Science Texts

     Let's talk about Math and Science Texts
and Supplementary Materials!

     I do not believe in re-inventing the wheel.  While,
again, I am not dogmatic about this or anything, I 
believe it is usually best to follow the program laid
out in a well designed text, especially in math and
science.

     There are many good reasons for this.  These
texts are prepared in collaboration by experts in the
field, experienced educators. Often a dozen or more
experts have worked together to produce the texts and
supplements. They have already worked out
issues of level of difficulty, order or presentation,
Assessment, and a suggested pace.

     I believe that for a teacher to spend hours
at the mimeograph and copy machine is a waste of
paper and borders on hubris and hype, when better
materials have been carefully prepared by teams
of experienced experts.

     And well-designed text programs have carefully
worked out articulation issues, so the we'll be
sure to cover the materials necessary to prepare
the students for the next year's work, even with
a different teacher or at a different school, if
they use the same texts.

     These texts and supplements are usually so rich
in material that the teacher has plenty of choice
to choose problems and readings and activities that
will be of special interest to the students.
     
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