Closing The Gap In Math
Although the year 2020-2021 will look very different due to the nationwide closing of schools from May to June of 2020, there have been some prior similar situations in pockets throughout the United States due to natural disasters. Research shows that we can learn from these events and use what they have found to help us navigate teaching and learning in order to close the gaps that students may have and accelerate learning. When optimizing learning opportunities we need to keep three key components in mind: curriculum, assessment, and instruction.
Curriculum
Research shows that although it will be tempting to spend months reviewing content the students may have missed, that it is imperative to begin teaching current grade level content as soon as possible. It is more meaningful to address gaps in learning in real time as they surface. In order to do that, educators need to understand how key concepts develop over time, not only the through current grade level standards, but how understanding builds across grade levels.
assessment
Assessments are critical to the learning process. Assessment guides instructional decisions by providing a way to continuously gather information about student learning. This enables us to identify misconceptions or gaps in student understanding, activate previous knowledge, and adjust our instruction accordingly.
instruction
In order to close the gaps that our students have in their learning, we will need to create unique learning opportunities for our students. Math routines can help build number sense and develop conceptual understanding. Work stations can be used to differentiate learning based on student need.