Education

MSU program helps teachers fill textbook gaps

By |

By BROOKE KANSIER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Many K-8 math textbooks are missing crucial elements: the subject’s required lessons under the Common Core education standards. A Michigan State University study of mathematics textbooks found that among 185 textbooks and 34 textbook series, only seven included all materials required under national Common Core standards. Researchers studied textbooks used by other Common Core states as well as books marketed as Common Core-aligned. These results were backed up by a recent study from nonprofit EdReports.org, which found similar results — 17 of the 20 textbooks studied were missing important Common Core lessons. Michigan schools are still working on completely implementing the recently adopted state standards.

Education

Some remain resistant to online resources replacing traditional textbooks

By |

By COURTNEY CULEY
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan schools may be saying goodbye to bulky, expensive textbooks and substituting online resources that are cheaper and easier to update. But some people are resistant to the possible change. “This is a day and age when they have to do wonders on the MEAP, every child can be a genius, and every child goes to college,” said Steve Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association. How can kids do that without taking textbooks home, he said. When an audience of 100 people gathered at the Michigan Education Association was asked to raise their hand if their districts had the same problem, almost half did, Cook said.