In our K-5 math classrooms we believe in a hands-on approach to develop conceptual understanding and promote critical thinking in order to develop mathematicians who take ownership of their learning and persist and persevere through rigorous math tasks.

Daily math instruction includes:

• Fluency practice to encourage flexible thinking, enhance procedural fluency and attention to precision
• Introduction to content that includes modeling, through the CPA instructional model.
• Math Workstations for practice and cooperative learning activities geared toward individual needs
• Problem solving protocols that include numberless problems, multi-solution problems, and self-created problems to build

This is followed by a short introduction to new content where teachers model new concepts and skills, utilizing the concrete, pictorial, abstract instructional method. After a brief introduction to new content students will move into math workstations where they will work independently or with partners on skills and concepts in the form of games, interactive online tutorials, or other activities that are geared towards their specific needs. While students are engaged in independent work stations, teachers will pull small groups of students to continue instruction based on each groups’ specific needs. Teachers finish the math instructional block with a problem solving protocol during which students will work to solve a variety of problems throughout the week, including numberless problems, multi-solution problems, and self-created problems.