By Regina Byrnes, Math Coach
Welcome back to a new year, and to the Math Matters at Morse
corner. As we did toward the end of last year, this will be a regular
feature of the Morse School Newsletter to inform our school community of
what is happening mathematically at Morse.
For the past few years the CPS Math Department has been engaged in a
Curriculum Review Cycle focused on the JK through Grade 12 mathematics
programming. Last year the Curriculum Review Committee did a review of
Kindergarten through grade 8 mathematics instructional materials. At the
end of the review, the Math Department decided to explore the math
textbook series, Math in Focus, an Americanized version of
Singapore Math, a program that has given rise to the prominence of
Singapore in mathematics instruction.
The Math in Focus program is being piloted in Kindergarten
through 8th grade classrooms across the district. Here at Morse, Mary
Gallant and Megan Zink are piloting the program with their 4th grade
students. Mary and Megan held an informational parent breakfast to
explain the program to parents, and to share some of the resources that
are available online. We are excited that Morse is participating in this
pilot. Mary and Megan will be meeting regularly with other piloting
teachers to discuss the program. In January a decision will be made as
to whether to continue the pilot to gather more information, abandon the
pilot or move forward to purchase the Math in Focus program for a
broader implementation across the district for the 2014 – 2015 school
year.
We welcome any and all suggestions for future Math Matters at Morse articles. Please forward comments and/or suggestions to Regina Byrnes, Morse School Math Instructional Coach at 617.349.6575 x156.