It’s hard to believe that over eight weeks have passed since we kicked off the school year in late August. A lot has happened in that time! One of the most significant changes has been the implementation of a new math curriculum, enVision Mathematics. Our staff has been diligently exploring the many resources it offers and customizing them to meet the needs of each classroom. This new curriculum was much needed to ensure vertical alignment from kindergarten through 5th grade.
I've had the privilege of spending a great deal of time in classrooms this year, and it’s been wonderful to see how the curriculum builds from one grade to the next. While studies show that it can take up to three years to see the full impact of a new curriculum, I believe we are already seeing positive results and can expect even greater outcomes as time goes on.
One exciting aspect of the new curriculum is the unit projects, which are tied to the topics students are learning and are developed throughout the length of each unit. For example, in 5th grade, Topic 4 focuses on "Using Models and Strategies to Multiply Decimals." Students can choose from one of four projects:
a) Planning an Exercise Program, b) Budgeting a Team's Uniforms, c) Calculating how far a rocket can travel in 100 seconds, or d) Understanding Sales Tax—How much extra will you have to pay?
These projects connect mathematical concepts to real-life scenarios, helping to answer the age-old student question: “When are we ever going to use this in life?” Both our students and teachers are reaping the benefits of the generous donations made during the “Gone Country” Gala last April, which made this curriculum update possible.