Districts 58, 99 Partner to Prepare Students for Success in Math

The following information was submitted by Downers Grove Grade School District 58:

District 58's Common Core Standards-aligned mathematics program is designed to prepare all students to be successful by fostering development of key mathematical practices and true concept mastery through a balanced combination of procedure and understanding. On March 11, members of District 58's Mathematics Curriculum Committee shared with the Board of Education an update regarding the mathematics program, along with plans to further enhance the program for 2014-15.

This school year, District 58 added three new curricular resources to its mathematics program: Math in Focus for grades K-5, Glencoe Common Core for grades 6-8, and IXL, a digital learning program that supports personal student growth on particular skills. Each curricular resource is aligned with the new, more rigorous requirements of the Common Core State Standards.

The district also has provided professional development pertaining to mathematics, including Common Core half-day trainings by grade level and time to collaborate on instruction during Institute Days.

''We are learning as a district what Common Core means--not only how to be more rigorous about the concepts we teach, but also how we are teaching and thinking about mathematics,'' said Herrick Middle School Assistant Principal and committee member Matt Neustadt.

The goal of the District 58 math program is to prepare students to become 21st century global problem solvers by infusing current tools and technology into the curriculum; providing opportunities and support to allow all students to demonstrate mathematical growth; providing a foundation that leads to mastery of core concepts and skills; connecting the instruction of math to real-world contexts to provide successful application beyond the classroom; and fostering and maintaining a high level of confidence and success in mathematics.

The approach is designed to gradually guide students from concrete lessons and examples to an understanding of more abstract concepts, such as solving for x in algebra problems. 

The key, said Dr. Matt Rich, District 58 Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, is supporting staff in helping all students to grow in mathematics understanding and achievement to meet the more rigorous requirements of the Common Core. To that end, in addition to implementing the new Common Core-aligned curricular resources the district next year will also:

• Implement middle school math pathways and course offerings that are directly aligned with District 99's new scope and sequence that will be phased in next year, and
• Work to ensure that assessments are connected to the curriculum ladder and resources in ways that help to guide and inform instructional practices.

The math department chairs from Community High School District 99 have participated in the math curriculum committee from its outset several years ago, and District 58 and District 99 continue to work in close partnership to build a continuum of teaching and learning in mathematics from kindergarten through twelfth grade. On March 11, Downers Grove South Mathematics Department Chair Paul Stevenson praised District 58 for having already aligned its math program to the Common Core Standards, setting District 58 students up for success in mathematics in high school and beyond.  

Next year, several flexible mathematics paths, all of which are directly aligned with District 99's new scope and sequence for mathematics, will be available to District 58 middle school students. Options will be available for students who need additional assistance, as well as for students who need an extra challenge to continue on their path of growth, with opportunities for vertical movement between pathways as needed in order to best meet the needs of the student.

Staff will encourage students to ''err on the side of challenging themselves,'' Rich said. Middle school principals will discuss the new math pathways at seventh-grade orientations this spring. 

For more information about District 58's Common Core-aligned mathematics program, visit visit our Math Curriculum Overview page at http://www.dg58.org/domain/608. To watch a video about the IXL digital learning program, visit our Presentations and Videos page at http://www.dg58.org/domain/743.

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