Family Math Nights Bring Together Parents and Teachers in Seattle Schools.
2475
Reference & Education > K 12 Education
Mar 1, 2007
Stacy Andell
Family Math Nights Bring Together Parents and Teachers in Seattle Schools.
Family Math Nights
Seattle Schools hosted a series of Family Math Nights to help parents and students learn about upcoming changes and challenges to the Seattle Public School Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered included helping your child with math at home, questions parents can ask, computational fluency, algorithms and mathematical proficiency, and relationships between research and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.
Teachers and administrators at the Family Math Nights stressed the importance of deeply engaging all elementary school students in mathematics instruction that is meaningful in order to create a learning environment in which students are math literate. The meetings were led by Gini Stimpson, a University of Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior Researcher. Examples of student work from Seattle Public Schools were shared in order to show what students were currently learning and what more they needed to learn. In addition, parents received valuable suggestions for how to help their children improve math skills at home.
Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Overview
Seattle Public Schools began a district wide initiative to improve the mathematics curriculum in late 2005. The last time that new textbooks and curriculum were considered varied for each level of schooling. Seattle Public High Schools last revised their curriculum in 1993, elementary schools in 1998, and middle schools in 2000. The push for new textbooks and curriculum is based on the recognition that student achievement must improve in order to meet the new graduation requirements in Seattle Public Schools. In order to meet these new graduation requirements, research into the best mathematics programs available began.
After conducting extensive research into new mathematics curriculum, Seattle Public Schools concluded that the new programs must be similar for each grade so that students move progressively through a range of math experiences that reflect the same practices and approach. The research also indicated that the curriculum and instruction need to focus on the achievement standards in order for a high percentage of students to perform at the required proficiency. In order to monitor this, assessment needs to monitor student progress within and between grade levels. In addition, the cultural needs of students needs to be considered in developing effective instruction.
Mathematics Curriculum Timeline
In October 2005, the Seattle Public School District began the process by selecting a committee of teacher, parents, and administrators. This committee included representatives for English Language Learners, Special Education, and various ethnic groups. This committee sought feedback throughout the community to choose the best teaching program for Seattle Public School students. The community has had many opportunities to learn about the various programs and offer feedback on which ones would be most appropriate for Seattle Public School students.
From November 2005 to January 2006, the committee developed a screening process that offered opportunities for the community and families to increase awareness and understanding of the new mathematics curriculum and why it was chosen. From February to March, the committee evaluated the best candidate programs in order to recommend a program to the Seattle Public School Board. Based on their recommendation, the Seattle Public School Board determined the best mathematics program for the students Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Seattle schools visit www.schoolsk-12.com/Washington/Seattle/index.html
Seattle Schools hosted a series of Family Math Nights to help parents and students learn about upcoming changes and challenges to the Seattle Public School Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered included helping your child with math at home, questions parents can ask, computational fluency, algorithms and mathematical proficiency, and relationships between research and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.
Teachers and administrators at the Family Math Nights stressed the importance of deeply engaging all elementary school students in mathematics instruction that is meaningful in order to create a learning environment in which students are math literate. The meetings were led by Gini Stimpson, a University of Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior Researcher. Examples of student work from Seattle Public Schools were shared in order to show what students were currently learning and what more they needed to learn. In addition, parents received valuable suggestions for how to help their children improve math skills at home.
Mathematics Curriculum Adoption Overview
Seattle Public Schools began a district wide initiative to improve the mathematics curriculum in late 2005. The last time that new textbooks and curriculum were considered varied for each level of schooling. Seattle Public High Schools last revised their curriculum in 1993, elementary schools in 1998, and middle schools in 2000. The push for new textbooks and curriculum is based on the recognition that student achievement must improve in order to meet the new graduation requirements in Seattle Public Schools. In order to meet these new graduation requirements, research into the best mathematics programs available began.
After conducting extensive research into new mathematics curriculum, Seattle Public Schools concluded that the new programs must be similar for each grade so that students move progressively through a range of math experiences that reflect the same practices and approach. The research also indicated that the curriculum and instruction need to focus on the achievement standards in order for a high percentage of students to perform at the required proficiency. In order to monitor this, assessment needs to monitor student progress within and between grade levels. In addition, the cultural needs of students needs to be considered in developing effective instruction.
Mathematics Curriculum Timeline
In October 2005, the Seattle Public School District began the process by selecting a committee of teacher, parents, and administrators. This committee included representatives for English Language Learners, Special Education, and various ethnic groups. This committee sought feedback throughout the community to choose the best teaching program for Seattle Public School students. The community has had many opportunities to learn about the various programs and offer feedback on which ones would be most appropriate for Seattle Public School students.
From November 2005 to January 2006, the committee developed a screening process that offered opportunities for the community and families to increase awareness and understanding of the new mathematics curriculum and why it was chosen. From February to March, the committee evaluated the best candidate programs in order to recommend a program to the Seattle Public School Board. Based on their recommendation, the Seattle Public School Board determined the best mathematics program for the students Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Seattle schools visit www.schoolsk-12.com/Washington/Seattle/index.html
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
The Arts for Acdemic Achievement Progrm The Arts for Acdemic Achievement Progrm (AAA) hs been bringing rtists into Minnepolis Schools since 1997. While its outwrd focus is on teching students to pint, dnce, nd express themselves
Category:
2. The San Jose Unified School District wins honors for its Board of Education Driven Public Engagement
The San Jose Unified School District has enacted a unique plan to build relationships with the local community in order to overcome an old negative image. The Past Negative Image of the San Jose Schools A series of teacher
Category:
Sachem School District teachers completed another professional development activity thanks to the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. The program is called the Strategic Instructional Model (SIM) and looks at how teachers can improve
Category:
Family Math Nights Seattle Schools hosted a series of Family Math Nights to help parents and students learn about upcoming changes and challenges to the Seattle Public School Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered included helping your
Category:
Purpose of the Learning Garden The John Muir Learning Garden is designed to give San Francisco Schools students a change to take learning further outside of the classroom. The Garden builds on the fundamental curriculum concerns of the
Category:
San Antonio Schools held two college irs as part of its GEAR UP program to help the class of 2012 get ready for college. GEAR UP Fairs in the San Antonio Area Current Sixth Grade students and their milies attended college
Category:
Las Vegas Academy, one of the magnet schools of the Las Vegas Public School District, has prepared a series of student produced and student led theater performances. The Five Plays ? You Want Freedom Fries With That?
Category:
The Detroit Schools has partnered with local universities to get students thinking about careers in science and engineering. Students at different levels of the Detroit Public Schools are being targeted in a statewide effort to get more women and
Category:
9. Take Stock in Children College Scholarships for Orlando Schools and Seminole County Public Schools
An Overview of the Take Stock in Children College Scholarship Program Take Stock in Children is a statede scholarship program being implemented by Orlando Schools and the Seminole County Public School system the program targets students
Category:
The Indianapolis lic Schools Click Program The Indianapolis Schools Click Program, a professional development program for teachers, helped teachers designed web based learning activities for students, called WebQuests. The Indianapolis
Category:
If it wasn?t a big enough perk to grow up next door to the Magic Kingdom, Orange County high school students are also being sought out by nonprofit organizations in their area. As part of Disneyland?s 50th anniversary celebrations, high school students
Category:
Shephard Elementary School Immersion Program Washington D.C. Schools are eager to begin a new language immersion program at the primary school level. Beginning in August of 2006, pre ? Kindergarten students of various foreign language
Category:
Educational Program Services All Pittsburgh Schools Early Childhood Programs cover five days a week, for at least six hours a day. The goal of the program is to ensure that preschool children develop the skills that they will need for
Category:
14. Summer HEAT 2006 Offers Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers in Miami ? Dade County S
An Overview of Summer Heat 2006 Miami Schools are offering a range of summer professional development courses for its public school teachers and administrators in order to help teachers meet federal requirements and learn new methods and
Category:
Other links at Reference & Education > K 12 Education
My long-time enjoyment of earth science, especially when it included fossil activities, had me doing earth science activities for kids from the time my own children re little ones. So when my middle school asked me to pick something to teach for six
Category:
Reasons why your child needs to know about technology and computers
Category:
Sachem School District teachers completed another professional development activity thanks to the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. The program is called the Strategic Instructional Model (SIM) and looks at how teachers can improve
Category:
Diversity represents the richness and uniqueness of human life. It is something that is valued and shared with children that teachers encounter on a day to day basis. Multicultural education hopes to prepare children for a diverse society in which differe
Category:
5. Summer HEAT 2006 Offers Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers in Miami ? Dade County S
An Overview of Summer Heat 2006 Miami Schools are offering a range of summer professional development courses for its public school teachers and administrators in order to help teachers meet federal requirements and learn new methods and
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68228
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
