What does EdTech do to students' brains? If we could answer “not much,” that’d be better than the reality. Learn more in our latest newsblast - then log off for the holiday week! Your mind will thank you: mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...

This multi-step problem has a varying degree of difficulty depending on how your child approaches it. Practice critical thinking and get more helpful Math Checkups on our site: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

NJ students made modest gains in math performance last school year. But we can’t celebrate when we’re still significantly below 2018 levels. Being honest about the size of the issue is the only way to start correcting course.

“Lower expectations can harm all students,” says @mattbarnum.bsky.social of @chalkbeat.org. “Sadly a lot of it felt very familiar,” adds Maria Lorenz, Prof of Instruction in Mathematics @temple.edu of the @ucsandiego.bsky.social remedial math report. More from @whyy.org: whyy.org/episodes/mat...

Your child’s score on the NJSLA is a valuable indicator. As a parent, you're in the unique position to give your student the extra support or challenge they deserve. Learn how you can make use of this critical data with our guide to understanding NJSLA scores: www.wakeupcallnj.com/njsla

Steve Beatty recounted his shock when his own A and B student failed the math portion of the NJGPA exam. If the president of NJEA can’t get honest assessments, what chance do average NJ parents have? Learn more in this article from NJ Education Report: njedreport.com/did-the-njea...

Students need foundational math skills to understand statistics. Get more Math Checkups to prepare your child for success in both school and real life on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

2024-25 NJSLA statewide results were finally released last week. While students showed modest improvement in average scores, we’re still failing to serve our lowest-achieving students. Let’s correct this injustice. More insights and ideas in NJ Education Report: njedreport.com/breaking-nj-...

Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse calls for further investigation of the systemic problems revealed by the shocking remedial math course report from @ucsandiego.bsky.social. Read more in the @wsj.com: www.wsj.com/opinion/uc-s...

New Jersey takes more than 7 months to deliver statewide test results. What opportunities do teachers, students, and families lose in that delay? Find out in our latest newsblast: mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...

Some argue the NAEP standard of “proficient” is too high. This study from Kentucky proves otherwise. Lowering the bar doesn’t raise students' skills. Let’s commit to transparency, accountability, and real success for our students in NJ: www.the74million.org/article/what...

There are many reasons for grade inflation, but the end result is the same: students and parents mistakenly believe they’re on track, when they actually lack fundamental math skills. Learn more in the study from ACT: leadershipblog.act.org/2023/08/grad...

Kelsey Piper, @rosehorowitch.bsky.social and @joshua-goodman.com untangle why math scores are crumbling in this episode of Plain English podcast, hosted by @dkthomp.bsky.social for @theringer.com.web.brid.gy: www.theringer.com/podcasts/pla...

NJ is finally set to release statewide test scores today. We’ve been waiting longer than nearly every state in the country for this data. Let’s make good use of it. Get more questions to guide your student to success on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/questionsfor...

This piece by @mcmegan.bsky.social captures what too many educators, professors, and parents have been saying quietly for years: lowering the bar doesn’t close gaps. It widens them. Let’s stop pretending we can’t hear this five-alarm bell in NJ and the US: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Most real-world math problems require using a variety of skills. There’s more than one way to solve this problem, but all methods involve critical thinking. Get more foundational math practice with our Math Checkups: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

Looking for something to read over the holiday weekend? Catch up on our latest newsletters! From school district’s strategic plans to remedial math courses in college, these are the stories that deserve your attention. View the archive and subscribe here: www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast

Early math learners need a strong foundation in basic facts. Teachers caught in curriculum wars know this. Parents understand it. This @‌bloombergopinion piece makes the case for evidence-based direct instruction. #NJ can become a positive example of this practice: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Go beyond the times tables to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table with this math challenge. 2-digit multiplication, much like time accounting, is a critical skill for success in school and beyond. Get more Math Checkups to keep your student on track on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

More than half of 3rd grade students in #NJ are below grade level. It’s a big problem today. It will be a bigger problem in the future. But it’s not too late for us to change course. Read this study from @caldercenter.bsky.social to learn more: caldercenter.org/publications...

Grade inflation isn’t just an issue in NJ elementary and secondary schools. The problem is prevalent across most colleges… even Harvard. Let’s make sure we correct this path - starting at early ages, at home, and in schools in #NJ: www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...

As standardized test scores have deteriorated, grade point averages have risen. This disconnect creates a perception gap for students and families. Parents deserve to know how their children are actually doing. Let’s do right by our students. fordhaminstitute.org/national/com...

What do plummeting test scores actually mean? 8% lower lifetime earnings for the average student. But it’s not to late to turn this around. #NJ can, and must, lead the way. Learn more in this @the74.bsky.social article: www.the74million.org/article/the-... cc @excelined.bsky.social

This 3rd-grade standard was featured in a UC San Diego report. You don’t want your child to be taking remedial elementary math classes in college. Use our Math Checkups to make sure they’re on grade-level: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups View the report UCSD here: senate.ucsd.edu/media/740347...

Needing to take remedial courses has a large negative effect on the likelihood of graduating college on time as well as future earnings. Furthermore, only 10% of NJ grads took this test. If this is how our top performers are doing, we’re failing to give our students the education they deserve.

UCSD faculty sounds the alarm with a new report about the math preparation crisis. And it’s not just happening in California. It’s happening in #NJ. Read more in @‌insidehighered: www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

Students need critical thinking skills for both their future and their daily life. So check in on your own child’s reasoning with this multi-step problem! You can get more helpful practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

In #NJ, statewide test results are released seven months after students take the test. Wouldn’t it make more sense for educators and everyone to have access to this information before the school year begins? Learn more: statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...

This report from Learning Heroes leans upon 10 years of research and leading voices in education. The results are clear. When families are centered as true partners, students succeed. Collaboration requires honesty. We owe #NJ students at least that much. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBwi...

You wouldn’t wait months for the result of a medical test. Yet across the country, we don’t receive data from statewide assessments for more than half a year. @chadaldeman.bsky.social makes the case for a timely standard in this guest post for our newsletter: www.wakeupcallnj.com/newsblast/st...

“This isn’t some wonky technical issue” writes @deniseforte.bsky.social for @the74.bsky.social. Read more about the implications of this waiver system for #NJ and all students in the US: www.the74million.org/article/givi...

Use this brainteaser to practice fractions with your kids, and gauge their progress in math this year. You can help them further grow their skills with Math Checkups on our website - view the whole inventory here: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

#NJ's education spending nearly leads the nation. We should demand the same high level of achievement for all students. It's crucial that everyone running for state office has the facts about student performance. Learn more from @chadaldeman.bsky.social: www.chadaldeman.com/p/thank-good...

Recognizing the success of past reforms shows what’s possible for #NJ and the U.S. in the decades ahead. @michaelpetrilli.bsky.social helpfully highlights the methods that led to the achievements of the 90s and aughts in this article for @the74.bsky.social: www.the74million.org/article/the-...

A good strategic plan provides not only goals, but specific measures and methods to achieve those goals. Yet many school districts in #NJ don’t have a public-facing strategic plan. Here’s what we can learn from the best plans to help all our students succeed: mailchi.mp/wakeupcallnj...

23 states can track how their ELA and math scores have recovered from 2019. New Jersey isn’t one of them. Full state results *still* haven’t been released. When will educators, parents - and most of all -students get the transparency they deserve? statetestscoreresults.substack.com/p/ela-and-ma...

In math, there are multiple paths to one correct answer. Don’t just ask your student this question, ask them how they solved it. Talking through their approach will help build the math fluency they need to succeed. Get more practice on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

With this misplaced priority from many media outlets, it’s no surprise that too many parents are in the dark about how students are truly performing. Let’s use this data from @bellwetherorg.bsky.social to demand better, starting at home in #NJ: bellwether.org/publications...

The strategic plan of Belvidere School District provides an exemplary level of detail. Visualizing critical academic outcomes provides instant clarity on how the students are progressing. Read more in this report from the New Jersey Policy Institute: newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...

Thanks to Montclair Local and Matt Kadosh for interviewing us to help introduce the problem we're striving to solve to more residents of Montclair. We can absolutely fix this and help every student succeed. And we absolutely must!

In addition to setting ambitious and measurable goals for academic achievement, Ramsey School District also built a public-facing dashboard tracking these proficiency indicators. Read more in this review of 50 school districts' strategic plans: newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...

The strategic plan of Cherry Hill Public Schools recognizes the importance of continuous improvement, and uses measurable KPIs to achieve those goals. Read more actionable lessons in the report from the New Jersey Policy Institute: newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...

Camden City School District's strategic plan sets out specific targets and deadlines for student outcomes. Read more about this leading examples of how strategic plans can best serve #NJ students in the report from the New Jersey Policy Institute: newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/wp-content/u...

Calculating area is a math skill students need for many reasons. Share this challenge with your kid and talk through it together. You can get more helpful exercises to build your child’s proficiency by grade level on our Math Checkups page: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups

Across the state, we’re not giving enough students the skills they need for college and career readiness. Let’s work together to give every child in NJ the education they deserve. Learn more at: www.wakeupcallnj.com/nj-education...

What’s missing from many #NJ school districts' strategic plans? Academic achievement. Learn more about this crucial oversight and the opportunity to make more of strategic plans: newjerseypolicyinstitute.org/strategic-pl...

@nichesocial.bsky.social l gives West Windsor school district an A+. Yet 32% of West Windsor's students are below grade level in math. Seems Niche believes in grade inflation. www.niche.com/k12/d/west-w...

The site @nichesocial.bsky.social just updated its school rankings. Montclair improved from A- to A in their metrics. Yet on the very same page, you can see that only 46% of Montclair Public School students are proficient in math. Do you think less than half of students at grade-level merits an A?

1 hour of math instruction is known to improve math proficiency. Alabama mandates a minimum of 60 minutes of math instruction daily. How might #NJ students improve if we follow this and other states' commitments to rigorous focus on academic outcomes? www.governing.com/policy/the-u...

Here’s a fun fact and brainteaser to you can share with your child. Solving the question requires four-digit subtraction - a second-grade standard. Is your student on grade-level? Get more quick and useful Math Checkups on our website: www.wakeupcallnj.com/mathcheckups