Elementary Math

“Mathematics is a beautiful subject. Ask mathematicians and others what they love about the subject and they will talk about the amazing connections that thread through the terrain, unifying the different ideas. There are not many facts or methods to remember in mathematics but there are a few really big and important ideas that are connected to each other and that infuse the subject.”

Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education, co-director of youcubed

Jen Munson, Doctoral Candidate, Mathematics Education

Cathy Williams, co-director of youcubed Stanford University

What is Mathematical Beauty?

“Mathematics is everywhere. It is in the objects we create, in the works of art we admire. Although we may not notice it, mathematics is also present in the nature that surrounds us, in its landscapes and species of plants and animals including the human species.” The Hidden Beauty of Mathematics

Curriculum Maps & Standards

Canyons School District Curriculum Map

Canyons School District’s curriculum maps are standards-based maps driven by the Utah Core Standards and implemented using materials adopted by the Canyons Board of Education. The maps and materials are coordinated vertically within feeder systems and horizontally within grade-levels. Student achievement is increased when both teachers and students know where they are going, why they are going there, and what is required of them to get there.

The curriculum maps are tools for:

Alignment,
Communication,
Planning, and
Collaboration.

The Utah Core Standards of Mathematics

The Utah Core Standards are aligned to scientifically based content standards. They drive high quality instruction through statewide comprehensive expectations for all students. The standards outline essential knowledge, concepts, and skills to be mastered at each grade level or within a critical content area. The standards provide a foundation for ensuring learning within the classroom.

Organization of the Math Core Standards

The Utah Core Standards are organized into strands, which represent significant areas of learning within content areas. Depending on the core area, these strands may be designated by time periods, thematic principles, modes of practice, or other organizing principles.

Within each strand are standards. A standard is an articulation of the demonstrated proficiency to be obtained. A standard represents an essential element of the learning that is expected. While some standards within a strand may be more comprehensive than others, all standards are essential for mastery.

Adopted Curriculum

Envision 2.0 is the adopted Elementary Math Curriculum for the Canyons School District. Envision 2.0 supports the teachers with focus, coherence and rigor as they teach the Utah Core Math Standards.

Assessment

In a balanced assessment system, teachers use classroom assessments, team assessments, interim assessments or District-wide Standards-based assessments, and comprehensive assessments to monitor and enhance student learning in relation to the state standards and goals for student proficiency (Schneider, Egan, & Julian, 2013). This level of balancing requires educators to understand and maximize the role of assessment for feedback and assessment for verification (Schimmer, 2016). In other words, assessment is viewed as teaching in that we engage in accurate assessment processes, day by day and moment by moment, rather than curriculum coverage (Erkens, 2016).

Canyons School District System of Assessment outlines an integrated assessment system to support educators with gathering evidence of student thinking patterns in order to plan instructional responses before, during, and after instruction has taken place.