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ASSESSMENTS
Institutes and books based on our proven Assessing Math Concepts series...
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CLASSROOM SOLUTIONS
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When teachers use the Developing Number Concepts curriculum, Assessing Math Concepts assessments and Math Perspectives strategies in their classrooms, they have the tools they need to help their students learn to value mathematics, become confident in their mathematical ability, become a mathematical problem solver and learn to communicate and reason mathematically (NCTM Curriculum and Evaluation Standards).
Assessing Math Concepts
In primary-grade classrooms, we learn most about how our students think and what they can do when we sit beside them, engage them in conversations, observe their actions, read their reflections, and see their mathematical work. Because of the ages and capabilities of these young students, mathematics assessment should rely more on observation and conversations and less on writing. What students write on paper offers only a glimpse of what they know and think.
Assessing Math Concepts is a continuum of nine assessments that focuses on important core concepts and related “Critical Learning Phases” that must be in place if children are to understand and be successful in mathematics. These assessments help teachers to assess their students and give them the necessary information they need to plan their instruction regardless of what curriculum or program they are using in their classroom. The information teachers get can be used to guide their instruction and identify those students who need extra help or intervention.
It is widely recognized that too many middle and high school students have gaps in their mathematical understandings that interfere with their ability to be successful as they move into algebra and beyond. Even those who have been successful in elementary math are not successful in later years, revealing that the ability to get right answers does not ensure an understanding of the underlying mathematics. If educators are going to prepare students for future success, they must have a greater understanding of the core foundational concepts that determine success or failure in the long run.
This set of nine assessments identifies Critical Learning Phases that are crucial to the understanding of core concepts. The information teachers get about each of their students from these simple and quick assessments provides them with information that is more important to their math instruction than any other assessment they'll use and answers the questions:
"What are the foundational mathematical ideas children need to know?"
"How can teachers know the children are learning these important ideas?"
"What do teachers do if the children are not learning what they need to know?"
Developing Number Concepts
The Developing Number Concepts series by Kathy Richardson is a complete K-2 curriculum for number operations that was designed to help young children develop important foundational mathematics concepts.
Each of the three books in the series includes cohesive and organized sets of activities and lessons focused on particular mathematical ideas. Every concept is developed both through teacher-directed and independent activities. Because children learn at different rates and come to school with varying levels of mathematical understanding, the activities are “expandable” and, therefore, make it easy for teachers to differentiate their instruction.
This series is easy for teachers to use. Each book includes background information on the featured math concept and a summary of ways to teach the concept. Teachers are given questions to guide their observations as they observe their students using the activities. The questions are geared to help teachers determine if the tasks the children are working with are appropriate and are meeting their needs.
The Planning Guide for Developing Number Concepts accompanies the series. The guide was written for kindergarten through grade three teachers and teachers of multi-grade classes. It includes comprehensive year-long teaching plans along with classroom management ideas.
Developing Computational Fluency: Number Talks
The primary goal for Number Talks is computational fluency. It is important for children to develop computational fluency and to communicate their learning verbally as well as through writing. Number Talks are a short, ongoing daily routine that provides students with meaningful ongoing practice with computation. Number Talks can be held with both the whole class and with small groups. When children are working with the whole class, they will have opportunities to experience a wide range of problems and many different ways to solve them. When working with a small group, the problems children work with can be more tailored to their particular needs and they will have more opportunities to share their thinking.
Number Talks are a powerful tool for helping students develop computational fluency because the expectation is that they will use number relationships and the structures of numbers to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
Research
All of Math Perspectives and Kathy Richardson's products, resources and professional development are all based on cutting-edge research that explores how children learn and develop mathematical understanding and how teachers assess this understanding.
A copy of the research basis can be found at www.mathperspectives.com/pages/research.html
Professional Development
Math Perspectives offers professional development to support teachers as they begin and continue implementing Developing Number Concepts and Assessing Math Concepts in their classrooms. Professional Development to support teachers as they implement Number Talks in their classrooms is also offered. All sessions are led by experienced classroom teachers and staff developers.
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