Common Core Math for Parents

Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement
Are you wondering why math looks different with the Common Core Standards? We look at focus, coherence and rigor of math and this video explains it well https://vimeo.com/m/110807219
In addition, math fact fluency is an important skill. Students that are able to accurately and fluently recall math facts demonstrate higher levels of success in math problem solving. The Peoria Journal Star recently published an article that draws the connection between fact fluency and brain research. You can read it below.

There are several resources you can tap into to help your child at home:

  1. Download the iPad/iPhone app, King of Math (also available in a Junior version)! It is a fast-paced mathematics game that includes a variety of different types of math problems to keep kid’s minds sharp. Students start the game as a farmer, and as they level-up they rise in rank until they are crowned the King of Math!”
  2. http://pbskids.org/games/math/
  3. http://www.coolmath-games.com/
  4. http://www.funbrain.com/
  5. http://www.mathplayground.com/
  6. http://mrnussbaum.com/mathcode/

 

Common Core Communicator #2: Math

Key Shifts in Mathematics

  • Focus: Learn more about fewer, key topics
  • Coherence: Build skills within and across grades
  • Rigor: Develop speed and accuracy

In math, instructional shifts focus on fewer, more central standards, building core understandings and linking mathematical concepts to real-world skills. In developing the shifts in mathematics, the designers of the standards moved away from what has been termed the “mile wide and inch deep” approach.

The Common Core Learning Standards for math stress the conceptual learning and understanding of key ideas and organizing principles of mathematics. The standards are designed to allow students to progress through math in a coherent way, building skills within and across grade levels.

The new math standards generate three major instructional shifts in focus, coherence and rigor. Adopted in 2010, these standards focus on the skills that students truly need to master at each grade level in order to succeed in subsequent grades. This means that there are fewer standards, but more teaching time for those standards that do remain. The standards are coherent both within a single grade and across grades. In other words, new concepts build upon previously learned concepts so that math topics are linked to one another.

The standards also clearly progress in difficulty from one grade to the next. Finally, the standards are rigorous because they support conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application with equal intensity. Students with conceptual understanding see mathematics as something more than memorizing multiplication tables or using “tricks” to get a solution. They understand the actual mathematical process behind their work. With procedural skill and fluency, students perform math operations with speed and accuracy. Lastly, the Common Core requires that students apply their math knowledge to real world situations.

What Can Parents Do to Help Their Child?

Shift

What Students Have to Do

What Parents Can Do to Help

Build skills across grade levels
  • Keep building on learning across grade levels
  • Be aware of what your child is able to do and how that will effect ongoing learning
Learn more about less
  • Spend more time on fewer concepts and work toward mastery
  •  Know what the priority work is for your child at their grade level
Use math facts easily
  • Go more in-depth on each concept
  • Spend time with your child and work on the key areas they need
Think fast and solve problems
  • Spend time practicing by doing lots of problems on the same idea in different ways
  • Ensure your child to know, understand, and memorize basic math facts
Really know it.

Really do it.

  • Make the math work and understand why it does
  • Talk about WHY the math works
  • Prove that they know why and how the math works
  • Ask questions and review homework to see if your child understands the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’ the answer is
Use math in the real world
  • Apply math in real world situations
  • Know which math skills to use for specific situations
  • Ask your child to do the math that comes up in daily life

Common Core State Standards Math Resources

http://www.corestandards.org/

http://achievethecore.org/

http://isbe.net/common_core/default.htm

https://www.engageny.org/parent-and-family-resources

http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/ForFamilies/LearningAtHome/SLH_k8.htm

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.

Coffee and Common Core Session #1

On November 4, 2014, parents joined Principal Mandy Ellis and teacher leaders, Sam Mahrt and Natalie Lanser for a foundational information session on the Common Core Standards in the Dunlap Grade School Royal Cafe. Mandy, Natalie and Sam have been engaged in high level professional development focused on Common Core shifts in Math and English Language Arts through the Peoria Regional Office of Education at the PROE Center. They integrated their knowledge to communicate these shifts with parents.

Coined “Coffee and The Common Core,” parents gathered together to hear information about the Common Core and engage in conversation to gain a better understanding of the shifts in Math and English Language Arts. The goal of the session was to provide an overview of the Common Core and its applications in the classroom. Future sessions will be offered to provide further information on Math, English Language Arts and the PARCC Assessment. The presentation can be viewed below.

Teacher Artistic Behaviors (TAB)

Art at DGS is different than in years past as we have embraced a T.A.B. philosophy. T.A.B., or Teaching Artistic Behaviors, is a way of running an art room that allows students to take charge of what they create. Students are given opportunities to experiment with a very wide array of art materials and techniques and work in a way that fits their own personal interests. Instead of similar projects that every student works on simultaneously (cookie-cutter projects) students are shown new techniques, ideas, and materials regularly and then they are allowed to express their creativity and artistic abilities at their individual levels. Construction of 3 dimensional projects from various materials, group paintings, and multimedia experimentation are happening all at the same time. The classroom is set up with “Stations” (centers) with specific materials at each station. At this point in time we have drawing, painting, and collage stations where students gather materials that fit their ideas. This builds self reliance and helps them learn how to make choices that will affect the outcome of their artwork. Using materials from multiple stations is not only acceptable, it is encouraged. Sometimes we make good choices and sometimes choices that require us to make adjustments, but that is how we learn. Other stations that will be opening up throughout the year will include clay and weaving. There are many other options for stations that we might try in the future that can include construction materials, wire, legos, and even digital photography/video.

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Common Core Communicator #1

What are the Common Core State Standards?

  • Prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college and work
  • Provide educators, parents and students with clear, focused standards or guideposts
  • Set consistent expectations, regardless of a student’s ZIP code
  • Include both knowledge and the application of subject area
  • Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards and standards of top-performing nations
  • Are based on real-world application
  • Are evidence and research-based, with guidance on topics to include, when to introduce content, and provides coherence and focus

What Do the Common Core Standards Look Like in the Classroom?

Common Core standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for what students need to learn, but they will not dictate how teachers should teach. Common Core standards are not curriculum. Teachers and schools will continue to devise curriculum, including lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms. Local teachers, principals, superintendents and school boards will continue to make curriculum decisions.

Key Shifts for English/Language Arts (ELA)

  • Regular practice with complex texts and their academic language
  • Reading, writing, and speaking grounded in evidence from texts, both literary and informational
  • Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction

Key Shifts in Mathematics

  • Focus: Learn more about fewer, key topics
  • Coherence: Build skills within and across grades
  • Rigor: Develop speed and accuracy

What Can Parents Do to Help Their Child?

  • Read a combination of fiction and non-fiction aloud or with your child. Look for subjects that interest your child — from sports heroes to dinosaurs. Select more difficult passages over time.
  • Read more informational texts including newspapers, magazines, technical manuals, science and social studies articles and books.
  • Talk with your child and have him or her explain things.
  • Encourage writing at home.
  • Help your children know/ memorize basic math facts.
  • Discuss and “do” real life math with your children. Look for “word problems” in real life.
  • Encourage a good work ethic.
  • Let your children see you read and “do” math.
  • Discuss with your children their performance in school and what they are learning. Talk about tests with your child and be positive and encouraging.
  • Talk with your child’s teacher(s) about his or her performance in school.
  • Talk with your children about the importance of graduating from high school ready for college and career success.

Common Core State Standards Resources

http://www.corestandards.org/

http://achievethecore.org/

http://isbe.net/common_core/default.htm

https://www.engageny.org/parent-and-family-resources

2nd Grade Science

Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

2nd graders had fun learning about the phases of the moon today! Students watched a video song that helped them remember the names of the phases. Then they demonstrated what the phases look like using Oreos! They showed their learning afterwards by labeling phases on the pictures from the Oreo activity. Everyone in the class showed perfect understanding! Thanks, Oeros! Who knew learning could be so delicious!

 

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DGS Learns at Institute Day

District Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

The K-5 Elementary teachers engaged in professional development today that was focused on learning about improving instruction of the common core state standards and continuing development of their understanding of the PARCC assessment. Leading the professional development was Cindy Dollman from the PROE Center. Cindy serves as the Assistant Regional Superintendent and led teachers through various activities to deepen their understanding of the shifts in the Common Core. Teachers worked in grade level teams to analyze lesson plans and activities using the Equip Rubric to determine quality of the lesson. This professional development afternoon was hosted at Hickory Grove Elementary School.1972275_808475835850939_4055505405262206975_n

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Math in Focus Parent Night

District Strategic Goal #4: Create Satisfying and Productive Partnerships with Families and the Community

Dunlap School District will host an informational “Parent University” on September 17th at 6:30pm in the Dunlap High School Auditorium for any families interested in learning more about the Math in Focus curriculum in grades K-5. You will learn how the program emphasizes problem solving and positive attitudes toward mathematics,  while focusing on student development of skills, concepts, and processes.

Representatives from the district as well as Math in Focus staff will be in attendance to present information. Please see the flyer below or at Parent Night Flyer

Parent Night Flyer

ISAT Updates

District Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

ISAT Updates

The ISAT data collected in Spring 2013 has been analyzed for school and district accountability determinations using the new performance level cut scores. Statewide data will be released at the end of October. Check out a helpful fact sheet at:  http://www.isbe.state.il.us/assessment/cut-scores/cut-scores-fact-sheet-0813.pdf.

The higher performance levels for the ISAT will result in a decrease in the number of students whose 2013 ISAT scores meet or exceed standards. This declide does not indicate that students know less or are less capable than they were in previous years. It is also not a reflection of teacher performance. The Illinois State Board of Education has raised the bar to increase rigor to provide a better indication of how well students are prepared to meet college and career readiness benchmarks. You can learn more about cut scores at http://www.isbe.net/hot-topics.htm#cut.

Individual ISAT reports will be distributed to parents later this fall when they become available. 20% of questions from last year’s ISAT test were from the Common Core Learning Standards whereas the previous year, there were no questions from the Common Core. This year’s tests will be 100% Common Core.

Second Step Program

District Strategic Goal #2: Create a satisfying and productive classroom learning environment

Second Step Program

This year Dunlap School District will launch a K-12 social, emotional, and behavioral learning program, called “Second Step”. This program is designed to increase students’ school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social-emotional competence and self-regulation. The program contains approximately twenty-two lessons which will be taught throughout the year in your child’s classroom. These lessons will strengthen abilities in:

• Skills for Learning

• Empathy

• Emotion Management

• Problem-Solving

Second Step lessons provide children with the information and practice they need to develop and strengthen positive behavioral skills. These lessons include weekly theme activities, brain builder games, reinforcing activities, and home links. Second Step skills helps create a safer, more respectful learning environment that promotes school success for all. Dunlap Grade School is eager to begin this program and looks forward to the positive impact it will offer. For more information regarding the content of the program, please contact your child’s teacher, school counselor Mrs. Bailey, or visit the Committee for Children website at www.cfchildren.org. We look forward to working with you as we begin this journey!

Step: Skills for Social and Academic Success (2011). Review and Research: Second Step Program. Committee for Children. Retrieved July 30, 2013 from //www.cfchildren.org/Portals/0/SS_K5/K-5_DOC/K-5_Review_Research_SS.pdf

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