Have you pondered this or heard your friends ask this question?

Why aren't kids learning Math the way we learned it?

The strategies that students are learning about and using in Math classes today may seem confusing and/or time consuming for parents. However, as educators, we believe that the long run is more important than the short run. Spending time now with students to help them develop a deeper understanding of place value, properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction, for example, will help them later when they start to learn traditional algorithms. In this newsletter, we'd like to tell you about some of the strategies being used in our classrooms. This link from Everyday Math may help answer some of your questions.

We respect your opinions and know that not everyone may agree with these shifts in practice, but we can affirm that since these shifts occurred in education, we've seen great results!

Sincerely,

Emily Blaney, LCE Principal

Karen Hurley, PCR Principal

Carrie Hetzel, PCY Principal

In this article, Christie Blazer outlines some important things to consider to help students develop confidence in Mathematics. We'd like to highlight some of these ideas and help you understand what this looks like in LCE, PCR, and PCY classrooms.

Students are learning the importance of talking to and listening to one another. Cooperative learning groups are used frequently to help students learn multiple pathways, justify their work, or come to generalizations with one another. Collaboration is a skill that will be useful as they move through the grade levels and through college and careers.

Each school offers additional opportunities for students who like to be challenged. Starting in 4th grade, students can attend Math Olympiad classes once a week. These classes prepare students for a popular Math competition in Spring for students all over Los Angeles County. Our district also offers its own Math competition called Mathzilla. This is also open to 4th - 6th graders, and this year Mathzilla will take place on May 8.

For students who are unable to take Math Olympiad class, each 4th through 6th grade classroom was recently provided a binder of MOEMS (Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School) challenges. These binders were created by our GATE teacher, Hilary Gregg. Students can try these challenges at school!

Technology also helps us challenge students. Stanford's Redbird program is for students in 4th - 6th grades. This online program is available as long as students have an account. Teachers submit names to Redbird to give students access. Redbird can be done at school and at home. Other online programs include Dreambox, a new program that we have just started. Some teachers are also using IXL, a website we've used for the last few years, as well as Khan Academy, and/or Prodigy. Check with your child's teacher to find out more. Dreambox, IXL, and Prodigy are good for all ages.

Everyday Math games are great because they can be differentiated to meet the needs of learners in a fun, engaging way. You will play some of these games if you and your children can attend Family Math Night on March 7!

Parents also have an opportunity to bring to the site administration their belief that their child is performing above grade level. The school site staff will utilize the current District Policy to evaluate each case on an individual basis.

Parents and teachers work together if they notice students struggling with Math. When the strategies mentioned in this newsletter aren't enough, a teacher may work one on one with a student or work with students in small groups to review concepts, help them correct their mistakes, or preview material with them to give them some background knowledge.

Technology also helps us meet the needs of struggling students. Dreambox, when used with fidelity, can close gaps that can get in the way of learning. Other programs, like MobyMax, may be used as another form of Response to Intervention.

When interventions aren't working, a Student Study Team (SST) may convene to discuss other interventions. The SST consists of the teacher, parents, principal, and anyone else who may be helpful in offering suggestions.

If you visit lcusd.net and search under Academics, you will find a page called Elementary Math Resources. This page provides further links for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Video tutorials for levels can be found to help you navigate some of the strategies that are taught using the Everyday Math curriculum. Here are examples of two of those tutorials on how to use the Expand and Trade Subtraction Strategy and the Partial Quotient Division Strategy. Video tutorials for 6th grade are in the works and will be posted soon.

As parents, what can we take from this information? Math is important, as it always has been. In addition, there are different methods of teaching Math today. We are preparing students for higher education and using research-based, pedagogical methods to do so. Please consider attending our Family Math Night on March 7. We think you will have a lot of fun!