The Carroll Middle School Math Curriculum Team (teachers from grades 6-8), made up of four core math teachers (Renee Friedrichsen, Renee Rowedder, Todd Tidgren, and Kaitlynn Kaufman) and three special education math teachers (Cinnamon Wulf, Jesse Strong, and Ashlee Pudenz), have met several times and will continue to meet this school year to address the math curriculum at CMS.
This work is part of CMS updating its curriculum cycle to address specific subject areas so that teachers have an opportunity to collaborate with co-workers to address resources and instruction, including looking at new math strategies to implement and digging deeper into the Iowa Core. Over the next five years, each content area will be reviewed.
One of the content areas CMS is currently addressing is the content area of math. Math has experienced some shifts, which have been addressed in the Iowa Core in the last several years. These shifts include Focus, Coherence, and Rigor.
- Focus: Rather than covering topics a mile-wide, inch deep, there is a focus to significantly narrow and deepen teaching; Focus on the major work of each grade
- Coherence: Build upon learning from grade to grade so students make connections from previous grades; link the major topics within grades
- Rigor: Emphasize conceptual understanding of key concepts; acquire procedural skills and fluency; flexibly apply knowledge in problem-solving contexts
How math is taught in today’s classrooms looks different from how it was taught five to ten years ago and beyond. Many math classrooms have taken steps to include more effective questioning as to the “Why” behind the answer rather than “What” is the answer. The process in finding an answer is just as important, and perhaps more important, as to coming up with the correct answer. There is also more emphasis to connecting math to other math topics and content areas and not teaching math topics in isolation.
Diane Royer, Heartland Area Education Agency Math Consultant, is assisting CMS in this process, providing professional development to the math team along the way.
Areas of focus during the curriculum work:
1. Address the Iowa Core
2. Discuss the Standards for Mathematical Practices
3. Learn and implement new math strategies
4. Look at what we are teaching within each grade level and across grade levels
5. Review new curriculum materials with the possibility of purchasing for the 2016-17 school year
The math team is in the early stages in the math curriculum review process as this work will continue. Teachers will continue to meet next year, as well, on a monthly basis to work on math curriculum and instruction.
This process will prove valuable as CMS continues to meet students’ math needs, provide more opportunity for students to think at high levels, and increase math student achievement.
