Mathematics

Students of Mathematics in the Westfield Public Schools are encouraged to become flexible, creative, and innovative problem solvers in order to prepare for and succeed in the rapidly changing world.  Learning experiences are designed using high quality, rigorous curriculum materials that encourage students to see the importance of mathematics in their present and future lives. Our students are actively engaged in meaningful mathematics, where student discourse, collaboration and opportunities for productive struggle are an essential part of daily instruction.    

 The students of Mathematics will: 

• Lay a foundation for higher-level mathematics, strengthen students’ capacity for thinking logically and rigorously, and develop an appreciation for the beauty of math. 

• Have frequent opportunities for students to discuss and write about various approaches to solving problems, in order to help them develop and demonstrate their mathematical knowledge.

• Teach students that, with persistence, they can improve and successfully solve challenging problems.

• Be responsive to students’ backgrounds, experiences, cultural perspectives, traditions and knowledge, in order to create, support and sustain a classroom of access and equity where all students can attain mathematics proficiency.

Outlined in the 2017 Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks our students will be able to: 

• Make Sense of problems and persevere in solving them: do what makes sense and be persistent until the problem has been solved. 

• Reason abstractly and quantitatively: use number sense when representing a problem. 

• Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others: make conjectures (guesses) and prove or disprove them.  

• Model with mathematics: use math to describe a real situation or problem. 

• Use appropriate tools strategically: use tools and technology strategically.  

• Attend to precision: be precise with words, numbers, and symbols. 

• Look and make use of structure: look for and use patterns and connections.  

• Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning: look for and create efficient strategies.  

Click Here for more information about the 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice.  

In addition to further clarification on the mathematics practices, DESE has provided Parent Guides to the Curriculum Frameworks to help families understand what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each grade. 

Curriculum Renewal Process - Mathematics

Math Pilot: Thirty-eight teachers across the district are participating in a voluntary pilot of three math programs in grades 1-10.  Teachers are investigating the following high quality resources with their students: Ready Classroom, enVision 2020, and Reveal. Teachers in the pilot cohort will provide their feedback to the Math Curriculum Committee.  

Math Curriculum Committee:  A group of 20 PreK-12 educators was selected through an application process to complete the Curriculum Renew Process.  The Math Curriculum Committee will make a recommendation for purchase of new Mathematics program(s) for students in grades K-12 for the 2020 - 2021 school year.   

Mathematics Content Area Support