Sandy Creek Elementary Math Night Clarifies Changes In Math, ELA For Parents

Teachers and administrators in the Sandy Creek Central School District presented an informational evening on the changes in K-5 curriculum for Math and ELA that align with the Common Core State Standards.

The main focus of the evening was to introduce parents to the new standards and help them understand what to look for and how to help their children at home.

The Common Core Standards are a single set of clear standards for ELA and math instruction that will prepare students for success and provide educators with a clear, focused map for what to teach and when.

This will provide instructional consistency, not only from district to district, but also from state to state.

All but five states have adopted the Common Core State Standards across the nation.

The coordinators of the program also shared with the parents curriculum timelines that show when their child will be learning specific skills in math and how selected standards change from year to year.

The Common Core Standards feature six shifts in mathematics including:

1) build skills across grade levels (more in-depth study); 2) learn more about less (building on learning); 3) use math facts easily (speed and accuracy); 4) really know it, really do it (understanding); 5) use math in the real world (practical application); and 6) think fast and solve problems (use core math facts quickly). The six shifts in ELA include: 1) read as much non-fiction as fiction; 2) learn about the world by reading; 3) read more challenging material; 4) talk about reading using evidence; 5) write about texts using evidence; and 6) know more vocabulary words.

To equip parents with tools to help them work with their children at home, coordinators of the program presented the parents with “goody bags” which contained math manipulatives that were grade-specific.

The manipulatives included red/yellow counters and shake and spill counters that provide students with a visual to help them combine like groups and help them solve problems multiple ways.

Parents were also given tools and demonstrations on how to help their child divide math problems into equation, model, and answer sentences.

The bags also contained resources for frequently asked questions, expectations, math and ELA testing information and activities that parents and their children can do at home to help strengthen and reinforce the Common Core Standards.

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