Common Core Math Shift #2: Coherence

Strategic Goal #1: Continuously Improve Student Growth and Achievement

Math should make sense. At DGS, we are working to make sure that math just doesn’t make sense in one grade level, but also across grade levels. Math is a progression of learning and the coherence in our math instruction supports the focus we are employing within the curriculum.

Mathematics is not a list of disconnected topics, tricks, or mnemonics; it is a coherent body of knowledge made up of interconnected concepts. Therefore, the standards are designed around coherent progressions from grade to grade. Learning is carefully connected across grades so that students can build new understanding onto foundations built in previous years. For example, in 4th grade, students must “apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction by a whole number” (Standard 4.NF.4). This extends to 5th grade, when students are expected to build on that skill to “apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole number by a fraction” (Standard 5.NF.4). Each standard is not a new event, but an extension of previous learning.

Coherence is also built into the standards in how they reinforce a major topic in a grade by utilizing supporting, complementary topics. For example, instead of presenting the topic of data displays as an end in itself, the topic is used to support grade-level word problems in which students apply mathematical skills to solve problems. (Source: http://www.corestandards.org/other-resources/key-shifts-in-mathematics/)

Watch the video below to learn more about the importance of coherence:

 

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.