Are We Moving Too Fast?

As my students finish taking their second district benchmark (in the first seven weeks of school, the students have taken a diagnostic exam, two district benchmarks, one unit exam, and four quizzes...in my class alone), I can't help but wonder if we are trying to cram too much information into our students' brains too fast.

I came across a blog from the Houston Chronicle called, "Slow Math?" The article asks the same question that I just posed and uses something called slow math to make its case. The article compares the "Signapore math," which introduces concepts slowly and over a long period of time, with Texas' current education philosophy of introducing difficult concepts to students as early and rapidly as possible.

The Singapore method takes a "slow-but-steady" approach. The Texan method takes the "Rapid-fire" approach. Which is better? Is our goal to make sure Kindergarten students understand difficult concepts (and then forget it before second grade), or is our goal to ensure our seniors are graduating with a depth of knowledge that comes from years of practice and fundamental teaching?