What IS Bergeson’s math hook?

This came through Where’s the Math? today.
(snip!)
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Letter to the Editor
Seattle PI
March 4, 2007

Before retiring in 2006 from Seattle Schools, I was a North Beach Elementary
principal and a math teacher at Ballard High School. Here’s my question: If a
building were constructed with a poor foundation and weak materials, would you
continue with the construction and then “fix” it with external resources–and
lots of extra funding? You spend money on retaining walls around it, provide
extra security alarms for buckling sounds, provide pretty decorations, etc.
Wouldn’t this be called professional negligence? Isn’t this the situation in
mathematics education today?

North Beach still takes hits from the district because they began using Saxon
Math in 2001, in the belief its strong skills-based approach was best for our
students. While we were proven right with our high test scores on the WASL, a
“conceptually-based test,” we also had observable, positive attitudes develop
toward math among our students, teachers, and parents.

I saw those same results when we used Saxon on the Spokane Indian Reservation,
when I was a teacher and principal there, so Saxon’s success is proven not only
for “advantaged” students, but is also highly recognized for the
“disadvantaged.”

A strong foundation is the real “math hook” for learners in any building.

Nakonia (Niki) Hayes
(personal address and phone numbers deleted for privacy)
Hewitt, TX
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I’m agreeing 100% wholeheartedly with this math teacher! We used Saxon in our homeschool for five years. It teaches a strong skill base, with new concepts introduced at a pace kids can handle, all the while constantly reviewing what they’ve already learned. I have used several other math curriculums but Saxon is the tried-and-true best! Personally, I prefer Math U See for K-3rd but after that, it’s Saxon all the way. Come on Spokane schools! Get something that works, get a foundation that won’t shift, and get your stupid WASL scores up in the process!! The way I see it, Terry Bergeson’s math hook is to tell a child “Oh honey you don’t have to DO math, here’s a calculator that will do it for you.” Puleeze!