Our mathematics curriculum embraces direct instruction in fundamental skills, explorations of real-world problems, and complex thinking. Math often overlaps with other subject areas and influences conversations in and out of the classroom, as these lesson profiles demonstrate.
June 3 “We are starting the day with some mathematical thinking,” Ms. Felton announced to an eager group of first grade students, parents, and other special adults. “How many triangles can you count in the shape displayed on our white board?” And so began Math Morning—a wonderful way for the first graders to show what [...]
May 27 Mrs. Zaval’s 7th grade students are becoming quite adept at solving relationship problems–algebraic relationships, that is. They have recently concluded a unit of study examining linear equations and functions. In the process, they have learned to generate a variety of methods for demonstrating the relationship between two key values in a linear equation: [...]
May 20 An article in the “Styles” section of last Sunday’s New York Times describes a new trend: “Junior Kumon” tutoring sessions in Manhattan. The three-year-old girl profiled in the story is prompted to read and write a series of numbers, dutifully erasing her errors and re-working the “sloppy” digits. The article goes on to [...]
The early Greeks contributed substantially to the world of mathematical thinking: Pythagoras gave us his theorem for triangles, Archimedes calculated an estimate for the value of Pi, Euclid explored geometric principles, and Zeno of Elea identified paradoxes of infinity. Each of these concepts demonstrates the elegance and beauty of numbers, and has proven itself worthy [...]
May 6 If you’re not a regular visitor to the first grade classroom, you might not be aware of the “math challenge” section of the bulletin board near the class calendar. Each week, a new question is posed. Students think about the problem, then place their responses into an envelope hanging under the challenge. This [...]