Author Archives: rmberkman

About rmberkman

This blog is the sole musings of one Robert M. Berkman, an educator who has taught math, science and technology for the past 30 years in New York. You can react to all his posts by emailing him at rants@bltm.com.

My Workbook Manifesto: A Chestnut from 2004….

10 Reasons Why I Am Opposed to Workbooks A Pedagogical Manifesto by R. M. Berkman  1. Workbooks do not promote interactions between children. Instead, the child works silently by him/herself, with no one to share ideas.  2. Workbooks do not … Continue reading

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The “Ins” and “Outs” of the “Common Core”

By now, we all probably know the backstory behind the Common Core State Standards: how Bill Gates funded it with the interest he makes on one day’s worth of his vast fortune (about $500 million it cost him….), how it … Continue reading

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GREs, The Final Score: Reflections on the meaning of BS…

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. Here is a list of the other posts … Continue reading

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Is it “No Go?” Or is it “No Math?” My Review of “Go Math!”

Bill Gates spent over $40,000,000 to fund the Common Core State Standards by donating to a variety of think tanks and teaching organizations. This is a review of Houghton-Mifflin- Harcourt’s “Go Math!”, one of the first curricula that is allegedly … Continue reading

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What happens when you listen to too much of Michelle Rhee…

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Me vs. The Stinkin’ GREs: In Which I Experience A “Freak-Out”

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. Here is a list of the other posts … Continue reading

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Me vs. The Stinkin’ GREs: in which I start to click…

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. To see the first post of this series, … Continue reading

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Me vs. the GREs – High Security and Writing My Time

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. Here is a list of the other posts … Continue reading

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Me vs. the Stinkin’ GREs: Test Day Arrives

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. Here is a list of the other posts … Continue reading

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Title Bout: It’s Me vs. The Stinkin’ GREs, Part I

In which the author, a 54 year old with 30 years in the field of mathematics education, takes the GREs, his first attempt at taking a standardized test in almost 30 years. Here is a list of the other posts … Continue reading

Posted in GRE Freak OUt | 4 Comments