Math
During the 2015-2016 school year the McCracken Math Department, Middleton Math Leadership Team and members of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment completed the process of examining math programming for general education students. After reviewing our district strategic plan, assessment data, best practices in the area of mathematics, and the EdReports.org review, the team selected the Eureka Math program. Eureka Math was designed after the Common Core State Standards were authorized, making it a fully-aligned and rigorous program. The following school year, the Meyer Math Leadership Team also elected to adopt Eureka Math. All teachers who utilize the program attended training so that they are readied to help our students navigate this new and innovative program.
Partnership between schools and parents are critical to student success! With this new program the way in which we partner in the area of math may look a bit different. The publisher of Eureka Math, Great Minds, provides helpful resources on their website greatminds.org/math/parents. A summary of those resources is below.
- Eureka Math Tips for Parents. There is one tip sheet per Module per grade level. Each one includes easy to read and visual information about the work students will complete in each Module, a review of the key Common Core State Standards, and sample problems.
- Eureka Math Videos for Parents. Three videos offer answers to the questions “How can I help my child have positive experiences in learning math?” “Who wrote Eureka Math?” and “How do I approach homework with my child and my child’s teacher?’”
Great Minds also offers Homework Helpers. These tools provide “step-by-step explanations of how (and why!) to work problems similar to those found in Eureka Math homework assignments.” Visit greatminds.org/store/products/group/homework-helpers-samples to download samples of these booklets.
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics offers six “Do’s for Families and Their Math Students.” These are:
- Be positive
- Link mathematics with daily life
- Make mathematics fun
- Learn about mathematics-related careers
- Have high expectations for your students
- Support homework—don’t do it!
