Math
Mrs. Winters, Math Specialist, RMMS- Click Here for Mrs. Winters' Math Page
Mrs. Pillion, Math Specialist, CSDA
Here in Brookline, we use enVision Math 2.0 Common Core Edition. Many teachers are using the Math Workshop model of instruction, in order to meet the varying needs of our students. Each of the Common Core areas are broken down into smaller topics. The topics may have anywhere from four to eleven lessons in each. Each lesson consists of the same components. They are as follows:
·Solve-and-Share: The Solve and Share problem engages students by connecting their prior knowledge to new ideas.
· Visual Learning: The Visual Learning Bridge connects student’s thinking from the Solve & Share to the math concepts they will be learning in the lesson. Students usually watch an interactive video during this part.
· Guided Practice: During the Guided Practice part of the lesson teachers work through several problems with the students.
· Quick Check: The teacher assigns the students a few problems from the lesson for a quick check to see how they understand the concept and/or idea. These problems can be used to differentiate the classwork and homework.
· Independent Practice: During this time the students work independently on problems that practice the skill and apply their knowledge of the skills.
· Activity Centers: The centers offer an opportunity for students to work in smaller differentiated groups. As the students rotate through the centers, they might be working with a teacher, playing a game with other students to reinforce the skill, working on the skills of the lesson on a computer, or working on a science problem-solving activity using the skill the students have been working on.
This program allows the teacher to use the SmartBoard on a regular basis. The students have access to online components at home and at school, including their textbook. There are also videos that students can watch to reinforce the lesson that was taught. The classroom teachers can assign online practice for homework and give assessments online. Each student has an individual username and password to access the program. They can access the program by going to the website: www.pearsonrealize.com
The Standards for Mathematical Practice describe ways in which students should engage in mathematics in order to become stronger problem solvers. Teachers work towards connecting the mathematical practices to the mathematical content in their daily math instruction. Following are the eight standards , including kid-friendly "I can" statements, which teachers are talking about in their classrooms with their students.
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
"I can solve problems without giving up."
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
"I can think about numbers in many ways."
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
"I can explain my thinking and try to understand others."
4. Model with mathematics.
"I can show my work in many ways"
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
"I can use math tools and tell why I chose them."
6. Attend to precision.
"I can work carefully and check my work."
7. Look for and make use of structure.
"I can use what I know to solve new problems."
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
" I can solve problems by looking for rules and patterns."
If you want to find out more detailed information about the practices, you can visit the Common Core Standards website at http://www.corestandards.org/
Parents are a key component in helping to reinforce mathematics in a child’s every day life. On cold snowy winter days, I encourage you to play games with your child. Some games that reinforce and help develop prerequisite math skills are Battleship, Connect 4, Krypto, Mancala, Blink, SIMON, and Othello. These games reinforce sequencing, visual and auditory memory, multi-step directions, visualization, estimation, pattern recognition, counting, and number sense.
We are excited to work with our students, staff, administration, and families with math this school year !