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Kindergarten Math at PS 11
A parents guide to understanding the Math
Workshop
Created by Crystal Stewart, 2013
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Math Curriculum
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The PS 11 math curriculum is based on the TERC Investigations
program, designed to create critical thinkers and problem
solvers through a deeper understanding of mathematics
through exploration, trial and error and true
understanding/processing.
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In addition to the TERC Investigations curriculum, teacher
instruction and assessments are based around the Common
Core State Standards. These have been cross referenced with
our units and supplemented as necessary in order to make
sure students are meeting those standards by the end of the
year.
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards
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Philosophy
In reality, no one can teach mathematics. Effective teachers are those who can stimulate
students to learn mathematics. Educational research offers compelling evidence that
students learn mathematics well only when they construct their own mathematical
understanding (MSEB and National Research Council 1989, 58).
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What is a Constructivist Approach?
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Students are self-motivated to discover knowledge and think about problems
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Students actively create or invent their own knowledge/understanding
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Students create new knowledge by reflecting on their actions
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Students make sense of their world and create their own ideas
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Student learning is a social process
The Investigations curriculum is designed to:
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Support students to make sense of mathematics and become mathematical thinkers
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Focus on computational fluency with whole numbers
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Provide substantive work in areas of rational numbers, geometry, measurement, data and early algebraand the connections among them
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Emphasize reasoning about mathematical ideas
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Communicate mathematics content
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Engage the range of learners in understanding mathematics
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Math in the Classroom
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Students gain a love and appreciation of mathematics through
multi-sensory instruction during daily math activities.
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Some math concepts explored in Morning Meeting include:
•attendance
•calendar
•months of the year
•days of the week
•tomorrow/yesterday/today
•number writing
•countdowns
•weather report and graph
•days in school
•schedule with ordinal numbers
•composing and decomposing
numbers
A typical Math Workshop looks like this:
•Minilesson with Active Engagement (5-10 minutes)
•Exploration of skills and strategies through partner
and/or independent work (20-25 minutes)
•Share (10-15 minutes)
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Units of Study
Unit 1
Who is in School Today?
Understanding the value of numbers, how to
represent that value and how they relate to each
other
Unit 2
Comparing & Counting
Using knowledge of counting and value to
compare numbers and measurements
Unit 3
What Comes Next?
Copying, constructing, extending and
identifying AB/ABC patterns
Unit 4
Measuring & Comparing
Measuring using a specified unit, exploring
different ways to decompose and combine
numbers to get the same product
Unit 5
Make a Shape, Build a Block
Noticing equivalency with shapes and
vocabulary to describe/categorize different
polygons
Unit 6
How Many Do You Have?
Counting and adding through 20, subtracting
through 10, story problems and decomposing
numbers 10-19
Unit 7
Sorting & Surveys
Understanding the value of numbers in data
collection, the representation of that data using
various graphs/tables, and solving problems
based on that data
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Goals Across the Year
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Assessments
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Teachers use many forms of assessment to ensure that they
are constantly aware of where your child is performing and
how they can best push them to become successful
mathematicians.
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This helps us to identify your child’s strengths and needs,
allowing us to differentiate instruction and push them to the
next level based on their individual needs.
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Assessments we use: Unit Assessments, Performance Tasks,
Addition/Subtraction Continuum, Conferences, Checklists,
Class Activities, Teacher Observations
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Supporting Your Child at Home
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Math is all around us!
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Use the Unit Progress Reports based on assessments to help reinforce concepts that
your child has not yet mastered
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Ask your child to explain their thinking: “ How do you know?”
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Help your child see the connection between homework and classroom instruction by
asking, “What were you learning?”.
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Some interactive websites to try at home:
www.kidsnumbers.com
www.ictgames.com
www.arcademicskillbuilders.com
www.kidport.com
www.abcya.com
www.internet4classrooms.com
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