Kids aren’t lab rats
đź’ˇ THOUGHT
Kids aren’t lab rats
“The term ‘fidelity’ comes from the sciences and refers to the precise execution of a protocol in an experiment to ensure results are reliable. However, a classroom is not a lab, and students are not experiments.”
– Cara Elizabeth Furman, Why Being Forced to Precisely Follow a Curriculum Harms Teachers and Students
Somewhere along the way, education reformers fell in love with this word “fidelity” – demanding teachers follow rigid scripts like underpaid actors in a very long play. Why do we trust teachers to shape young minds, but not to choose their own words?
đź“Š TREND
Teachers Are Voting With Their Feet
While some districts double down on scripted curricula, others are discovering a surprising recruitment advantage: trust.
“It’s been a weight lifted off my shoulders,” one fourth-grade teacher told researchers after switching to a school where administrators encourage adaptation. “If there’s anything that you feel your students need, then do it. If it doesn’t completely align with the expensive curriculum we’ve invested in, that’s okay.”
She’s not alone. In a recent study of teachers in the Northeast, eight out of nine public school educators reported pressure to follow rigid scripts – often under threat of punishment or job loss. But schools offering more flexibility are finding it easier to attract and retain talented teachers.
The message is clear: In a tight labor market for educators, treating teachers like professionals rather than script-readers isn’t just good pedagogy – it’s good business.
⚒️ TOOL
Life of Fred: When Math Meets Storytelling
Meet Fred Gauss. He’s a 5-year-old math professor who lives at a university, has a doll named Kingy for a best friend, and occasionally gets ripped off at the bank because, well, he’s five. Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of Life of Fred Mathematics.
Life of Fred teaches math through stories so engaging that kids forget they’re learning mathematics. It’s like sneaking vegetables into a smoothie, except instead of carrots, you’re sneaking in calculus concepts.
But here’s the question every parent asks: “Is it enough?”
The short answer: It depends on where you are in your journey. Through elementary grades, many families treat Fred as their “main course” while adding “side dishes” like hands-on activities or supplemental practice. From pre-algebra onward, Fred stands quite well on his own, covering everything needed for college prep.
Who thrives with Fred?
- Story-loving learners who ask “Why do I need this?”
- Kids who break into hives at the sight of traditional workbooks
- Students who enjoy discovering concepts rather than being told
Who might want to look elsewhere?
If you’re preparing for standardized tests next month or need lots of repetitive practice, Fred’s meandering journey might not be your fastest path.
(FACT) OF THE DAY
A Young Carl Friedrich Gauss’s teacher wanted to keep the class busy: “Add all the numbers from 1 to 100.”
While others started 1+2+3…, Gauss spotted a pattern:
1 + 100 = 101.
2 + 99 = 101.
3 + 98? You guessed it.
Fifty pairs of 101? 5,050.
His teacher thought he cheated – the solution came too fast. Instead, the boy had discovered what would become a fundamental principle of mathematics.
(No wonder Life of Fred named their 5-year-old math professor protagonist after him!)
That’s all for today!
– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)