NewsPre-K to 8Academics
Lower Grades Gain New Math Series to Improve Students’ Skills
Aug 1, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
After spending almost the entire 1999-2000 school year seeking a strong math curriculum for students in the first through third grades, the Lower School has adopted Everyday Mathematics. If it proves successful, it will be used in fourth and fifth grades next year.
Third grade teacher Charla Brewster spearheaded the search. After meticulous study and evaluation, the first, second, and third grade faculty felt that Everyday Math would challenge students, excite them about learning math, and give them the best foundation in traditional skills. Many of Darlington’s peer schools, including Lovett, Westminster, Pace, Trinity, Walker, and Woodward, have also adopted this program.
This curriculum follows the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Standards and balances the acquisition of basic facts with teaching children to value, communicate, and reason mathematically; to develop confidence in their mathematics abilities; and to become mathematical problem-solvers.
The program is structured to recognize that children have the ability to connect real-life experiences to new learning. Since children have various learning styles and most students do not learn every concept the first time they are taught, Everyday Mathematics uses a spiraling approach to mastery. Each concept and skill is revisited over a period of time, not only to promote retention, but also to allow for a variety of exposures and increased depth of understanding. Students are expected to learn basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts, but rather than using only drills to accomplish this, the program incorporates partner and small group activities, games and hands-on projects and explorations that focus on higher-level thinking and problem-solving.
During the Lower School open house, September 12, parents of children in first through the third grades will have an opportunity to learn more about the program through a presentation and hands-on activities.
Third grade teacher Charla Brewster spearheaded the search. After meticulous study and evaluation, the first, second, and third grade faculty felt that Everyday Math would challenge students, excite them about learning math, and give them the best foundation in traditional skills. Many of Darlington’s peer schools, including Lovett, Westminster, Pace, Trinity, Walker, and Woodward, have also adopted this program.
This curriculum follows the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Standards and balances the acquisition of basic facts with teaching children to value, communicate, and reason mathematically; to develop confidence in their mathematics abilities; and to become mathematical problem-solvers.
The program is structured to recognize that children have the ability to connect real-life experiences to new learning. Since children have various learning styles and most students do not learn every concept the first time they are taught, Everyday Mathematics uses a spiraling approach to mastery. Each concept and skill is revisited over a period of time, not only to promote retention, but also to allow for a variety of exposures and increased depth of understanding. Students are expected to learn basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts, but rather than using only drills to accomplish this, the program incorporates partner and small group activities, games and hands-on projects and explorations that focus on higher-level thinking and problem-solving.
During the Lower School open house, September 12, parents of children in first through the third grades will have an opportunity to learn more about the program through a presentation and hands-on activities.
