MS Math
Math
In September of 2013, the Little Silver Math Curriculum was adopted and aligned to the Common Core Standards. These standards, based on high quality standards from across the country, provide clarity and specify to what should be taught rather than broad general statements. The Math standards not only stress conceptual understanding of key ideas, but continually return to organizing principles such as place value and the laws of arithmetic. Additionally, the sequence of topics and the learning progression of the Common Core Standards takes into account how students’ develop mathematical thinking, skill and understanding through grades K-8. The vision of the mathematics standards is focused on achieving one crucial goal: To enable all students to acquire the mathematical skills, understandings and attitudes that they will need to be successful in college, in their careers and in daily life.
Some important key shifts in the Common Core standards include:
Greater focus on fewer topics this mean focusing deeply on the major work of each grade as follows:
- In grade 6: Ratios and proportional relationships, and early algebraic expressions and equations
- In grade 7: Ratios and proportional relationships, and arithmetic of rational numbers
- In grade 8: Linear algebra and linear functions
This focus will help students gain strong foundations in procedural skill and fluency and the ability to solve real world problems.
Coherence: Linking topics and thinking across grades
The standards provide a coherent progression from grade to grade in which new learning is built upon learning from previous years. Coherence is built into the standards to reinforce supporting and major content.
Rigor: Pursue conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application equally
To help students meet the rigor of the standards educators actively integrate these components into lesson planning and instruction to achieve the greatest student achievement outcomes.