Kids pile into their math classes curious about what they will be learning in class. The teacher knows the class’s reaction to what they are about to say so they act in a cheery mood. They say it is a Mathia day. Some kids sigh as they reach for their Chromebooks but some open their Chromebooks with excitement.
Mathia is part of the new math curriculum that students grades nine through 11 are doing as of this school year. It is a very complex and precise curriculum. Most classes at Huntley do Mathia one to two times a week and are self-paced.
“I think that Mathia really helps me learn whatever we’re doing if I’m having trouble, but also it can be really picky and annoying because it only wants us to answer it a certain way,” sophomore Gabi Sosin said.
This new curriculum involves a lot more memorization than the old curriculum, Pearson. Both students and teachers can agree that this change is a big adjustment. From standing up in front of the class and teaching almost every day to stepping back and letting students figure it out in groups. Carnegie Learning has its positives and negatives.
“Usually whenever we do Mathia it’s a pretty chill day. We’re not doing anything crazy,” Sosin said.
Mathia allows students to learn at their own pace and gives them multiple hints and examples if a student needs them. But, the majority of students think that the program is very repetitive and boring.
“I think it’s confusing. One time there was a question with a line and a box, I was clicking the box multiple times and I couldn’t get it,” sophomore Joey Humphrey said.
The commotion about the new curriculum shows that it is going to take a while to get used to. It is a couple of months into the school year and program and it is still a struggle for many students.
“It’s so overcomplicating I’m not even learning anything. Most of the questions are pattern-based, so sometimes I don’t even get it but move to the next workspace. My math teacher has gone out of her way to help so many times due to the vocab and the whole confusing curriculum,” Humphrey said.
Many students complain, but try their best to stay positive and continue doing it to the best of their abilities because as students we cannot change the curriculum.
“I hate it. It’s very repetitive and quite annoying because if you get a singular thing wrong, it tracks back your progress. Then the same problem just repeats until you get it right and move on,” sophomore Elena Escamilla said. “Last year was the first year I started to like math again and now because of this change I don’t enjoy it as much.”
The shift to Carnegie Learning has been challenging and many miss the old curriculum.