Investigations or Everyday Math?

[kbbteacher]

We are in the process of adopting a new math curriculum for next year. Our two choices are Investigation or Everyday Math. We will be able to look at the programs and review them in January, but I am curious about other people's opinions who have experience with these programs. We are currently using Trailblazers which I like, it has a lot of hands on practice and good activities. What do you think?

 

[zale]

Go Investigations!

We use Investigations and I love it!!! It is very different from Everyday Math. I did Everyday math for student teaching and hated it.
Investigations is a new way of thinking about math and all kids succeed with it. It will be hard for more experienced teachers to want to change to Investigations but it is truly awesome.

 

[kbbteacher]

what are the differences?

Is Everyday more skill and drill?

 

[lovebug422]

I don't know much about Everyday Math, but I rarely hear a teacher say "I love it". I have, however, encountered many who say "I hate it". From what I understand it's a spiral approach. How I've had it explained to me (not sure how accurate my memory is) is that there are many concepts thrown out at once - not one whole unit taught on this concept, and then another unit on a different one. If they don't get a concept the first time, your teaching will spiral back to it later in the school year. Some teachers I've spoke with say some of the concepts they need to teach early in the year, the kids just don't seem developmentally ready for them.

We use a math book, in conjunction with Investigations. We have an older edition (about 5 years old?) but I've heard wonderful things about the more current editions. With the old one, we found lots of holes where it didn't hit on all of our GLCES (standards/benchmarks) so we willed those holes in with our math books. Investigations is very hands on, and encourages higher level thinking through journaling, partnering, etc. The games are fun, but they really drive home the concept. There isn't a WHOLE lot of prep work that goes into playing the games (getting and gathering materials) BUT, our edition (could be different now) isn't all that teacher-friendly. LOTS of reading and trying to pull it all together before teaching a lesson.

I like the balance we have with using both - but would LOVE to hear about the newer Investigations...

 

[buddy8203]

We have EDM and it does grow on you. The first year was tough because of the spiral effect. I taught 3rd grade before in a different district and my first graders are learning some of these concepts better than they did. There is a lot of hands-on activities and games. Fridays are considered flex days were you can review skills of have centers. Many of the skills in the beginning of the year are challenging for them. Our assessments indicate to the parents which skills are beginning, developing or secure. The students are really loving math with this new program.

 

[AD]

I use Investigations and really like it. Although the manuals are a lot of reading, it is useful information. Preparation for lessons is very minimal. It is very hands on and group/partner oriented. It's never quiet in my classroom during math.

At first grade it focuses a lot on games, cooperative groups and partners, and choice time.

We are looking to adopt a new math curriculum too. The three choices are: Investigations, Everyday Math, and Math Expressions. I don't know anything about ME, very little about EM, and I'm kind of hoping we keep Investigations. We would be getting the newest edition. All three programs are being piloted in classrooms in my district right now.

 

[kbbteacher]

Thank you

for all of the helpful information. Our program (Trailblazers) is a spiraling curriculum too. It too has a lot of reading prep, but also a lot of prep in general for getting things ready and making any necessary items. So, I am kind of glad to be making a switch. The Investigations website looked very supportive...the only thing I wish was happening is that someone in our district was piloting, but no one is. Oh well...

 

[jennyfa]

New EM

Everyday Math isn't as user friendly anymore. I'm in a district that upgrades as soon as possible, so we have the newest version. It no longer defines skills as beginning, developing and secure.

As for the spiral... For example: Unit 2 introduced pennies and nickels, Unit 3 introduced dimes, and Unit 4 introduces quarters. Each time it reviews. Also, the lessons are split into 3 sections. The first is the teaching, which is when most of the new concepts are introduced. The second is review. So even though you are not actively doing coins, you may be reviewing them. So it does spiral, but it also continuously reviews it. The third is reteach/enrich for differentiation ideas.

It's nice because it's a whole package and it's very explicit about what you are supposed to do. I think teachers in my district generally like it, but they don't all like not being able to supplement.

 

[Socks]

Investigations

The new investigations is SO much better than the old!! I used the old for three years and I'm so much happier this year. It's very easy to follow (still a bit of reading) but the kids are really successful with it. You have to be very open minded about your teaching though. Many experienced teachers struggle with it because it is so new and they aren't open to change.

I don't know anything about Everyday Math but if I were given a choice, I think I'd vote for Investigations!!

 

[ttbw]

investigations

My daughter's school uses it. I don't know that I agree with EVERYTHING, but I can say my daughter could out problem solve my 5th graders when she was in 3rd grade because of the problem solving she has to do in this series. As a parent, I am happy.

 

[coffey]

Investigations

I have been using Investigations for 2 1/2 years now. I am a new teacher, but older. I have had adjustment issues because of the way that Investigations involves a lot of hands on and very little direct instruction. However, the more I use it the better it works. We also use the books to make everything connect. Parents like the program because students who do not like math, love teaching the parents the games. Many of the games can be played with regular playing cards and materials at home. I have a growing appreciation for Investigations, especially using the book to "fill in holes" and/or connect basic math concepts to using traditional math language. The program also lends itself very well to real life applications.

 

[yesteach]

Investigations

I've never used EM - but I've not heard/read much good about it... on the other hand, I JUST started using Investigations with my first/second graders and they love it! It does take some getting use to, but I like it. I have the new version.

 

[Lilacs]

Our district piloted both these programs. They were the two final choices. The teachers really wanted Investigations because it promotes more conceptual knowledge/manipulatives and the pacing is a little more reasonable. We were given EDM instead. After two years they also upgraded because the company offered big discounts for doing so. The newer version is better, but still not a favorite. I found the journal pages difficult. They are very overwhelming visually (difficult for Sped/OT kids). The program moved too quickly for the lowest quarter of students. However, it was good at stretching your upper quarter.

 

[LovesLucy]

Everyday Math

We are in our third year of Everyday Math. It wouldn't be nice to say that I hate it, but I really don't like it all. The concepts that are presented to the children are done so in a way that is very high-level (except for that small percentage of children at the top of the class that are very good in math). Usually such a skill is only "developing" so the children don't really need to be proficient with it, but that seems comparable to introducing them to physics and saying it's okay if they don't really get it because they'll do it again another day. The Math Boxes in the workbook (oops, it's called a "Math Journal" but there is no writing and nothing open-ended about it) are supposed to be done independently but some of the children can't do them successfully on their own. I'm a big fan of Math Their Way, and -while it may have had its shortcomings- it truly did present concepts in a developmentally appropriate way. Everyday Math may have it's spiral, but it jumps around a lot and then relies on going back to revisit a concept days or weeks later (hoping the children will remember that first introduction). Parents complain about how difficult the homework (HomeLinks) are and I feel put in the position of explaining, "Don't worry that your child had difficulty. It's only a "developing" skill." As a parent, I would ask, "What's the point of homework like that?" My own children use Investigations in their school and it seems more clear than Everyday Math. I feel as though I need to back-track and explain some of the concepts of EDM more concretely than the way in which they are presented. When we adopted it, we were told, "Trust the spiral. Trust the spiral." But who knows our students better? Us or the spiral?

 

[momnva]

Investigations

I love, love, love Investigations I would teach 100% Investigations, but it doesn't completely match our state standards and we are tested at the end of the grade. If you want what is best for kids, I would go Investigations. We looked at Everyday Math, but heard a lot of negative feedback.

 

[CR]

Investigations over EM!!

Like most of the posts before me, I prefer Investigations to EM. We just started using Investigations as a joint usage program with our Scott Foresman Math program. Prior to that, we had Everyday Math for about five years. I did not feel that EM was developmentally appropriate for many of my first grade students. My children did not enjoy the lessons unless it involved a game---the jounal pages made them so frustrated! The Investigations program with their games and group work have my class so enthused about math! When the children are enjoying themselves, that's when the best learning takes place!

 

[italiangirl89]

I am a huge Investigations fan. I have never used Everyday Math, so I cannot give an opinion on that. Investigations has worked really well in my class and the kids LOVE math now.

 

[1styrteacher]

Everyday Math

Our school just adopted Everyday Math and I really enjoy it. This is also my first year teaching so I really haven't known anything different then Everyday Math. I like all of the games that go on during the chapters and the kids really enjoy them. The hardest part of Everday Math is that it does spiral and it is hard to supplement for my students who are low. I am interested to see if next year will be easier because the kids I will be getting will have had EDM for 1 year and will be in the routines of the curriculum.

 

[TeacherMeg]

We are using Investigations for the first time this year and I LOVE IT! It is very hands -on and gets the kids involved in what they are learning. I have really enjoyed using it so far this year.

 

[ismile]

Everyday Math

I have used both and felt that Everyday Math did a better job at review and mastering that Investigation allows. Not that teachers can't make those alterations and supplement, but it is a nice starter to have it built in. I would go back to Everyday Math if I had the choice.

 

[custer78]

I have never used Everyday math but we use Investigations daily. While is does teach a lot of the process and provides a lot of hands on skills, there are HUGE gaps in learning, i.e. fact strategies, time, money, etc.