Miles River Middle School Changes in the 6-12 Mathematics Curriculum Tony Walsh 6-12 Mathematics Curriculum Leader 6 th Grade Parents: Please buy a scientific calculator for your child ASAP, for use 6-8 th grades! A cheap one is fine (example, several $5 to $10 at Walmart, choose solar powered) It should have a square root key and an exponent key (x y or y x or ^)

The Common Core at MRMS  In MRMS and HWRHS begin a multi-year transition to the new Common Core Mathematics curriculum  In Mathematics the change is radical

Big Changes in Math  New topics have been added to every grade level from 6th through Algebra 2 at the High School  Many topics already part of the 6-12 math curriculum are now being introduced at an earlier grade level

Big Changes in Math  New teaching styles  PARCC online examinations  This year’s 6 th Grade will pilot a hard copy PARCC exam in the spring, as well as MCAS  For example  Transformations  Learning by experiment and discovery.

MRMS Common Core Transition  6th grade  All mathematics classes will follow the 6th Grade Common Core curriculum.  7th and 8th grades  In this year’s 6 th graders will be 8 th graders and all of 6-8 will be fully Common Core  Until then 7 th and 8 th will be a hybrid of the existing curriculum and Common Core.

MRMS Common Core Pathways  Traditional Path for most students  6 th, 7 th, 8 th grades will take 6 th, 7 th, 8 th Grade Common Core curricula respectively  Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus curricula at HWRHS  Opportunities to “double up” to reach Calculus by Senior year  AP Statistics also available to Seniors

MRMS Common Core (CC) Pathways  Accelerated Path for some students  6 th grade will take 6 th Grade CC curriculum  Accelerated path readiness test at end of 6 th Grade  7 th Grade will take 7 th Grade CC plus part of 8 th Grade CC  8 th Grade will take the remainder of 8 th Grade CC plus Algebra 1 CC  Honors Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Calculus curricula at HWRHS  No more Freshmen in A1 Geometry classes

Teaching Materials for Common Core  Our Math textbooks are only partially aligned to the Common Core  No decision has yet been made about acquisition of new Common Core aligned Mathematics textbooks  Decisions will be made by the school and district administration with guidance from the MRMS Mathematics Team.

Teaching Materials for Common Core  During the transition period the 6-8 Mathematics teachers will teach from the following sources  Online access to teacher and student materials from the "Big Ideas" Mathematics series  The existing "Math Connects" textbooks  Supplementary CC materials from the "Math Connects" publisher

Questions?