Grade 6 - Mathematics

The goal of the Mathematics Program at West Woods is to help students’ value mathematics and become successful problem solvers and clear communicators of mathematical thinking. In grade six, students continue to develop mathematical proficiency through a range of instructional experiences. Instruction emphasizes problem solving strategies and reasoning as students arrive at and justify mathematical solutions. Students are also helped to make connections among mathematical concepts to strengthen and further their understanding. Students focus on fluency and developing understanding in four critical areas: using ratio and rate to solve problems;  solidifying concepts about the number system through division of fractions and applying and extending previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers (especially negative numbers); writing, interpreting, using expressions and equations; and statistical thinking. In addition to the critical areas, 6th grade students develop an understanding of concepts about our number system including computing fluently with multi-digit numbers, finding common factors and multiples, and extending previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers. Students also solve a variety of real world problems. Students experience a problem solving approach to mathematics based on everyday situations and use a variety of 21st century skills to interact with mathematics.

For more information visit: Farmington Public Schools K6 Mathematics Website 

• Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems

• Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions

• Compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples

• Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers

• Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions

• Reason about and solve one-variable equation and inequalities

• Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables 

• Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume

• Develop understanding of statistical variability 

• Summarize and describe distributions

Supporting Students at Home:

For families looking to provide additional support at home, the following resources are available:

• FPS K-6 Mathematics Website - provides links for online and app resources

• IXL - an online program that provides individualized practice for students; this can be accessed via the ClassLinks Bookmark on your student’s Chromebook

For families looking to provide additional challenge at home, the following resources are available:

• IXL - an online program that provides individualized practice for students; because this program is adaptive, students may be challenged to work on skills beyond what is covered in class

• Self-directed work - encourage your student to explore a topic/interest of choice (learn about the stock market, explore a topic via Khan Academy, etc.) or to create a resource to share with or teach their peers (via Flipgrid, WeVideo, etc.) 

From the FPS K6 Mathematics Website: 

1. Talk positively about math.  Please avoid saying,"I'm just not good at math." 

2. Talk about math whenever you can.  For example, you and your child are shopping.  Have them round the items you are purchasing to the nearest dollar.  Have them add these rounded numbers to get a total.

3. Talk to them about how you use math at home and work.  For example: paying bills, keeping a checkbook, buying presents, cooking with recipes, playing musical instruments, measuring during projects, etc.

4. Encourage them when they are challenged by math.  Little successes lead to increased confidence.  Increased confidence leads to more risk-taking in math.  More risk-taking leads to accepting more challenging problems, which leads to greater confidence and greater understanding.

5. When your child is having difficulty with homework, have him/her read the problem out loud to you. Ask him/her to identify exactly what the question is asking.  Help start the problem. Tell them to show something so the teacher knows there has been effort. Have your child prepare a specific question to ask the teacher.

6. Play games in the car.  You can do something simple like practice multiplication facts.  Or, you could learn a game like "buzz" that connects to multiplication tables.

7. Help your child develop a growth mindset.  Praise  effort and risk-taking, not just results.  If you child is struggling through a problem, suggest that he/she tries a different strategy.  Effort does not always mean trying harder but trying something different.