To support the development of all students as problem solvers through effective, consistent and impactful implementation of the letter and spirit of the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Mathematics, and to attain significantly higher levels of student achievement in mathematics as measured by state and/or national assessments and common district performance tasks (NCSM, 2013).
To ensure that effective mathematics classrooms exist where:
All students are:
Meaningfully engaged with both the content and practice standards of the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Mathematics
Taking part in solving rigorous problems in real life contexts
Actively participating in academic conversations using the language of the standards
Contributing to knowledge within a learning community that values their voice and ideas
Formulating mathematical claims that both support and challenge the thinking of their peers
All teachers are:
Using questioning techniques that facilitate student learning and support students’ use of the mathematical practices
Scaffolding rigor as they move students to deeper levels of cognitive demand
Emphasizing process and sense making over answer-getting
Providing ample wait time
Requiring 100% participation (Thompson, 2012)
Continually looking for evidence of the level of students’ understanding and providing frequent and specific feedback based upon that evidence
All learning environments are (NCSM, 2013):
Safe and supportive such that
a) all ideas and methods are valued
b) students choose and share their methods
c) mistakes are learning opportunities for everyone
d) correctness resides in mathematical argument
Structured and organized to maximize time on task
Language rich
