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Mathematics
Program
Our Mathematics program consists of Bridges in Mathematics, Everyday Math and Connected
Math Programs for grades K-8 in Laramie County School District Number One. All programs offer hands on activities as
well as problem solving and extended response questioning.
Bridges in
Mathematics
The Bridges Program
has four basic components: Problems/Investigations, Workplaces, Number Corner, and Home Connections.
Problems/Investigations includes the introduction of vocabulary and new concepts to the whole
group. It is meant to be motivational and may include literature, higher level questioning and checking for understanding.
Number Corner is a very enriching whole group activity that introduces the concepts
that will be focused on in the next unit. Some of these concepts include counting, money, place value, patterning, probability,
geography, telling time, vocabulary, exploration, student to student interaction, and is language rich.
Workplaces is an integral component of Bridges. It is successful when all students are engaged
and compliant. The teacher again checks for understanding of the standards and strands while the children are using manipulatives
to practice extensions, social skill building, and problem solving.
The Home Connections are important in keeping the parents informed about what their children
are learning and providing games and ideas for parents in supporting the education of their children.
Everyday
Math
The Everyday Math curriculum has
several components: Reflexes and Mental Math, Problems/Investigations, Journals, Math Boxes, Games and Study Links.
Each component is an important part of the program.
Reflexes and Mental Math introduces vocabulary and reviews concepts previously
taught. This is an important piece for students to regularly practice and reinforce math concepts.
Problems/Investigations builds understanding of math concepts and the vocabulary
introduced. The teacher models the activity and checks for student understanding. This is a whole group activity.
The Journal gives students independent and/or small group practice on the
math concept just modeled by the teacher. The journal pages also encourage problem solving and collaboration skills.
Math Boxes provide recursive practice of the math skills students have been
practicing as well as exposure to concepts that will be taught in upcoming units.
Games provide computation practice in the Everyday Math program. The
games are meant to be engaging for students, provide computation in a fun setting and also encourage group work.
The final component of the Everyday Math program is the Study Link.
This is a worksheet that is sent home for students to practice the skill introduced in the days math lesson. This encourages
parent involvement as well as independent practice for students.
Everyday Math is a spiraling curriculum which revisits math concepts on
a regular basis. Each of the components is needed in order to provide students with a successful math experience.
Connected Math
The Connected Math Curriculum is
taught in grades 6, 7, and 8 in our school district. This program emphasizes the processes of problem solving and how
you get the answer. Students discover answers and formulas and then apply them in problem solving situations.
It looks very different from the standard math curriculum because of that.
There are five main components of the Connected Math program: Launch,
Explore, Summarize, Application-Connection-Extension (ACE) and Reflections.
During the Launch the teacher reviews previous learning, introduces the
new math concept and sets up the exploration of the concept. The students practice and review prior math concepts.
The Explore is designed to engage students in small collaborative groups to
solve the problem given by the teacher in the Launch. Students are encouraged to "think outside the math box"
about the problem. The teacher guides the students practice and thinking.
Students are in charge of the Summarize component of this program.
They share their findings in front of the group and use the overhead or other visuals to present their strategies to their
classmates. Students must put their learning into language in order to share with others. The teacher uses this
time to check for understanding and to clarify any concepts.
The ACE component allows for independent practice of the math concept as
well as extension of the knowledge into other problem solving situations. This is where the student can really
show off his/her math knowledge.
Relections give students an opportunity to put their math knowledge into
written form. When students are able to write about their math knowledge you know they really have a grasp of the
concept. This is also an excellent way to prepare for the written portion of the PAWS math test.
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