Math
What will students do in math class?
Students will talk about math by sharing observations, explaining their thinking, and asking questions. They will use hands-on activities, math tools, and visual models to understand how math concepts work. Also, students will build stamina for solving complex problems that require perseverance.
What resources are available online?
Using the links at the top of this page, you can access an overview of the mathematics in each unit, free apps, and ideas about books, games, and other resources that can help your student. Family letters for each unit are attached at the bottom of this webpage.
Why is it a good idea to learn multiple strategies? Why not have students memorize basic facts and algorithms? (I believe this gets at the root of the Bridges curriculum philosophy.)
Bridges curriculum addresses both mastery of the skill (quick recall of facts) and understanding of the concept. Bridges teaches basic facts by first having students explore the operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) in the context of story problems or situations, which ensures students understand what it means to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Students then learn strategies for solving basic problems. Finally, students practice the facts until they can recall them from memory.
Bridges teaches students to compute with larger numbers by first establishing conceptual understanding of the operation, then using visual models to learn different ways of calculating, and finally helping them become proficient with efficient algorithms.