Mathematics
This past year Wilder-Waite purchased Math in Focus (Singapore Math) and implemented it at the K-2 level. This, however, is the first year for its implementation at grades 3-5. Singapore Math revolves around a framework that is centered in mathematical problem solving. There are five supporting pillars to the program: metacognition (monitoring one’s own thinking), processes (reasoning, communication, and connections), concepts (numerical, algebraic, geometrical, statistical, probabilistic, and analytical), skills (numerical calculation, manipulation, visualization, analysis, measurement), and attitudes (beliefs, interest, appreciation, confidence, and perseverance).
With each lesson, students are taken through the gradual release of responsibility process as they are in literacy and writing instruction. In math, however, it looks slightly different. Students are introduced to a concept through a concrete representation. As they progress through the lesson and become more familiar with the concept, it transitions to pictorial representations. Then finally, students are able to apply their learning with abstract representations.
Students will have extensive practice with all new concepts. They will work hands-on in pairs, small groups, whole class, and individually. Lesson objectives will be checked for understanding through the use of homework checks, observations, and quizzes utilizing the Smart Response Clicker System. Students will also demonstrate understanding by constructing models and drawing examples.
Differentiation will be provided as necessary for every student. Students will be matched with “just right” instruction and remediation/enrichment will be provided per the needs of the individual student. Students will be pretested at the beginning of each chapter. This test is not meant to be used to test students out of upcoming material, but rather used to ensure students have mastered the necessary prerequisite skills to proceed with the upcoming lessons. Students not demonstrating mastery of the second grade material will be worked with in class, but will also be provided with additional at-home practice as well.
Students will have homework practice with each lesson. Homework is meant to be practice and help students acquire the necessary skills for the chapter; therefore, it will not be recorded in the grade book as a letter grade. However, it will count towards a 10% completion/participation grade. You may help your child as needed with the skills, but please allow them to try it on their own before helping—remember that the entire focus of the program is that students be able to describe their own thought process, not go through a set of steps. If you find that your child is still struggling with the topic, please make a note in their assignment notebook and I will work with them the next day. I understand that homework can often be a struggle for some students, which in return, becomes a struggle for the parent. If you find that when focused your child is taking more than 30-45 minutes to complete the assignment, please contact me and we might be able to make accommodations—after all, it is not how many problems they complete, it’s whether they know the concept!
Your child’s overall mathematics grade will be 70% test grades, 20% lesson quizzes, and 10% homework completion/participation. There may be times when math projects are assigned. If the expectation is that students demonstrate their mastery of content, these will also be entered into the grade book. Since there are only a small number of grades in math, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of talking to your child daily about what they are learning. I will do daily checks on their understanding and try to work with students in need, but it is very helpful when it is a team effort between school and home. Constant communication on your child’s level of understanding will only benefit them in being prepared for the tests. There will be a practice test students will take that will help guide you in their preparation for the test. However, please be aware that Math in Focus wants children to be able to apply concepts in a variety of different formats. Therefore, there may be types of problems on the test that students have not experienced in class.
There are a number of online components to our curriculum that you will have access to. More information about what these are, how to use them, and how to access them will be sent home soon!
Topics of Study
All concepts taught this year can be grouped into one of the following categories:
*Since this is the first year of the program, there will obviously be kinks that will need to be worked out along the way. I may not be able to answer all your questions in the beginning, but hope to be able to as the year goes on. I thank you in advance for your patience as it is a new learning experience for everyone!
Links
1) Math in Focus Enrichment Pages
2) Math in Focus Extra Practice Pages
3) Math in Focus Reteach Pages
4) Math in Focus Online Textbook
5) Math in Focus Workbook
6) Math in Focus Manipulatives
7) IXL
This past year Wilder-Waite purchased Math in Focus (Singapore Math) and implemented it at the K-2 level. This, however, is the first year for its implementation at grades 3-5. Singapore Math revolves around a framework that is centered in mathematical problem solving. There are five supporting pillars to the program: metacognition (monitoring one’s own thinking), processes (reasoning, communication, and connections), concepts (numerical, algebraic, geometrical, statistical, probabilistic, and analytical), skills (numerical calculation, manipulation, visualization, analysis, measurement), and attitudes (beliefs, interest, appreciation, confidence, and perseverance).
With each lesson, students are taken through the gradual release of responsibility process as they are in literacy and writing instruction. In math, however, it looks slightly different. Students are introduced to a concept through a concrete representation. As they progress through the lesson and become more familiar with the concept, it transitions to pictorial representations. Then finally, students are able to apply their learning with abstract representations.
Students will have extensive practice with all new concepts. They will work hands-on in pairs, small groups, whole class, and individually. Lesson objectives will be checked for understanding through the use of homework checks, observations, and quizzes utilizing the Smart Response Clicker System. Students will also demonstrate understanding by constructing models and drawing examples.
Differentiation will be provided as necessary for every student. Students will be matched with “just right” instruction and remediation/enrichment will be provided per the needs of the individual student. Students will be pretested at the beginning of each chapter. This test is not meant to be used to test students out of upcoming material, but rather used to ensure students have mastered the necessary prerequisite skills to proceed with the upcoming lessons. Students not demonstrating mastery of the second grade material will be worked with in class, but will also be provided with additional at-home practice as well.
Students will have homework practice with each lesson. Homework is meant to be practice and help students acquire the necessary skills for the chapter; therefore, it will not be recorded in the grade book as a letter grade. However, it will count towards a 10% completion/participation grade. You may help your child as needed with the skills, but please allow them to try it on their own before helping—remember that the entire focus of the program is that students be able to describe their own thought process, not go through a set of steps. If you find that your child is still struggling with the topic, please make a note in their assignment notebook and I will work with them the next day. I understand that homework can often be a struggle for some students, which in return, becomes a struggle for the parent. If you find that when focused your child is taking more than 30-45 minutes to complete the assignment, please contact me and we might be able to make accommodations—after all, it is not how many problems they complete, it’s whether they know the concept!
Your child’s overall mathematics grade will be 70% test grades, 20% lesson quizzes, and 10% homework completion/participation. There may be times when math projects are assigned. If the expectation is that students demonstrate their mastery of content, these will also be entered into the grade book. Since there are only a small number of grades in math, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of talking to your child daily about what they are learning. I will do daily checks on their understanding and try to work with students in need, but it is very helpful when it is a team effort between school and home. Constant communication on your child’s level of understanding will only benefit them in being prepared for the tests. There will be a practice test students will take that will help guide you in their preparation for the test. However, please be aware that Math in Focus wants children to be able to apply concepts in a variety of different formats. Therefore, there may be types of problems on the test that students have not experienced in class.
There are a number of online components to our curriculum that you will have access to. More information about what these are, how to use them, and how to access them will be sent home soon!
Topics of Study
All concepts taught this year can be grouped into one of the following categories:
- Building problem-solving skills and strategies
- Using models to solve real-world problems involving the four operations
- Making and interpreting data from bar graphs
- Identifying fractions of a set
- Finding angles and identifying lines
- Understanding area and perimeter of figures
*Since this is the first year of the program, there will obviously be kinks that will need to be worked out along the way. I may not be able to answer all your questions in the beginning, but hope to be able to as the year goes on. I thank you in advance for your patience as it is a new learning experience for everyone!
Links
1) Math in Focus Enrichment Pages
2) Math in Focus Extra Practice Pages
3) Math in Focus Reteach Pages
4) Math in Focus Online Textbook
5) Math in Focus Workbook
6) Math in Focus Manipulatives
7) IXL