Norms & Goals

State how you will bring College and Career Readiness into your classroom. Include what, when and how you will do this.

Implementing College and Career Readiness in Math Courses

Objective:  

Provide students in my math courses with skills and strategies that will not only improve their math skills but also prepare them for their future academics and careers. Special education teachers help students by adapting content and approaches to meet the differing needs of students with disabilities everyday!

1. Relating Math Skills to the Real-World(daily)

- Career-Oriented Lessons: Use math problems that are related to real-life in various careers (e.g., calculating discounts in retail, budgeting in finance, measurements in construction). This helps students understand how math is used in daily work tasks.

- STEM Connections: Highlight the role of math in STEM careers to encourage interest in these high-demand fields. Provide small units or projects to explore the math in these careers.

- Job-Specific Math: Relate math problems to students' individual career interests, showing them how math applies to their chosen field (e.g., healthcare, automotive repair).

2. Promote Executive Functioning Skills (quarterly and after units)

- Time Management: Teach students how to manage their time effectively through the use of schedules, timed math exercises, and long-term project planning (e.g., a budgeting project).

- Organization: Encourage students to keep math journals or use graphic organizers to help them systematically approach problems and manage their learning materials.

- Problem Solving: Incorporate multi-step word problems that require critical thinking, similar to real-life scenarios where students must assess, plan, and solve.

3. Develop Math Literacy for College-Level Courses(daily)

- Foundational Skills: Focus on building strong foundational skills such as fractions, percentages, and algebraic reasoning, which are critical for college-level math courses.

- Note-Taking & Study Strategies: Teach effective note-taking strategies that students can use in future college courses, such as outlining steps for solving math problems or highlighting key formulas.

- Accommodations in College: Familiarize students with the accommodations and support services available in post-secondary institutions (e.g., extended time, tutoring centers).

4. Incorporate Technology(daily)

- Math Software & Tools: Introduce students to technology tools used in math (e.g., graphing calculators, educational apps) that they will encounter in higher education and certain careers.

- Online Learning Skills: Prepare students for potential online coursework by integrating virtual math platforms where they can practice and receive feedback.

- Data Analysis: Introduce basic data analysis using spreadsheets, teaching students how math is used in handling data in various careers.

5. Soft Skill Development(weekly)

- Collaboration: Incorporate group work to foster teamwork skills, as collaboration is important both in college and the workplace.

- Communication: Encourage students to explain their mathematical thinking both in writing and verbally. This strengthens both math vocabulary and the ability to communicate complex ideas.

- Resilience: Encourage students to view mistakes as learning opportunities. This helps students develop perseverance, a critical trait for both academic and career readiness.

6. Transition Planning(end of units)

- College & Career Exploration: Provide opportunities for students to explore career pathways and post-secondary education options through guest speakers, career days, or research projects on careers that use math.

- Goal Setting: Assist students in setting short-term academic goals related to math improvement and long-term career or college goals.

- Self-Advocacy: Help students practice how to advocate for their learning needs.

Integrating college and career readiness into my math courses ensures that students with disabilities not only improve their math skills but also gain the broader skills necessary for success in future jobs and career. By making math relevant to real-world situations, promoting soft skills, and supporting transition planning, special education teachers can empower students for long-term success.