Warsaw Schools Implements Math In Focus Curriculum
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
"I'm excited that our teachers and leaders have chosen this innovative approach that aligns so well with the new Common Core Standards that Indiana and most other states across the nation have adopted," said Hintz.
Warsaw Community Schools is only one of seven districts across Indiana to adopt Math in Focus: The Singapore Approach during last year's math adoption. It is called the Singapore approach because it uses the methods of the country that has dominated international math assessments for the last 10 years.
The news goes beyond the textbook aligning well with the curriculum, though.
WCS math coach Lorinda Kline said, "This is a powerful approach to mathematics because it uses proven techniques and strategies based on how the brain learns."
The approach targets the essential math skills at each grade level and helps students master those basics.
"Each grade level builds a solid foundation of mental math, number sense, place value, and problem solving," said Kline. "The next grade level builds on this solid foundation and takes it further. There are fewer standards to learn, deeper understanding is expected, and better learning is taking place."
So, what does the Singapore Approach look like in practical terms?[[In-content Ad]]Students start each concept with something concrete. At first, they might use blocks or sticks or beans to actually "see and touch" the math concept before they move to the next step of just "seeing" the math concept with a drawing or a picture. Once they get to working with only numbers on a page, however, students have a solid foundation of understanding why the math works because they have seen it and touched it and moved it themselves. The concrete to visual to abstract progression layers student learning based on the research of how the brain learns for mastery.
For more information, contact Kline at [email protected]
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"I'm excited that our teachers and leaders have chosen this innovative approach that aligns so well with the new Common Core Standards that Indiana and most other states across the nation have adopted," said Hintz.
Warsaw Community Schools is only one of seven districts across Indiana to adopt Math in Focus: The Singapore Approach during last year's math adoption. It is called the Singapore approach because it uses the methods of the country that has dominated international math assessments for the last 10 years.
The news goes beyond the textbook aligning well with the curriculum, though.
WCS math coach Lorinda Kline said, "This is a powerful approach to mathematics because it uses proven techniques and strategies based on how the brain learns."
The approach targets the essential math skills at each grade level and helps students master those basics.
"Each grade level builds a solid foundation of mental math, number sense, place value, and problem solving," said Kline. "The next grade level builds on this solid foundation and takes it further. There are fewer standards to learn, deeper understanding is expected, and better learning is taking place."
So, what does the Singapore Approach look like in practical terms?[[In-content Ad]]Students start each concept with something concrete. At first, they might use blocks or sticks or beans to actually "see and touch" the math concept before they move to the next step of just "seeing" the math concept with a drawing or a picture. Once they get to working with only numbers on a page, however, students have a solid foundation of understanding why the math works because they have seen it and touched it and moved it themselves. The concrete to visual to abstract progression layers student learning based on the research of how the brain learns for mastery.
For more information, contact Kline at [email protected]
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