Planning Your Math Curriculum

Planning is an important part of delivering a math curriculum that is aimed at teaching for conceptual understanding. If you are new to a specific grade, or would like to revamp the organization of your math curriculum there are a few important steps to follow. The ideas listed below are a culmination of experience, and some basic resources including "A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 6, Volumne One: Foundations of Mathematics Instruction pg. 47-62" and The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8 Mathematics 2005.

With changes to the reporting periods in Ontario schools, many teachers may consider adjusting their math curriculum to fit with the altered reporting periods and requirements.

There are three main areas for planning your math curriculum.

1. Long Range Planning - This refers to a full year plan that outlines the big ideas you will be addressing in each curriculum strand, resources you will utilize, assessment methods, and sequencing of concepts. Depending on the requirements from your administor, the format of these plans can vary. Two suggested layouts are included in A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 6, Volumne One: Foundations of Mathematics Instruction

on page 59 and 60. Some teachers find it beneficial to plan with another teacher who is teaching the same grade. If you are fortunate to have another collegue to co-plan with you may find it to be a worth while experience. When you are identifying the "Big Ideas" it may be worth while to examine "Good Questions: Great Ways to Differentiate Mathematics Instruction by Marion Small" as she outlines the "Big Ideas" from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

2. Unit Planning - This refers to a smaller sequence of lessons that are usually focused around one big idea, and may include concepts from one or more curriculum strand or subject area. Whenever possible, it is advantageous to link concepts from more than one curriculum strand to provide connections for students, and to make the learning more meaningful. If possible, linking concepts in mathematics with other units of student (science, social studies), also provides meaningful context for students. A sample template is also provided in A Guide to Effective Instruction in Mathematics, Kindergarten to Grade 6, Volumne One: Foundations of Mathematics Instruction on page 61. There are many other formats that can be utilized and it is key to find a method that works for you. The important piece in unit planning is that you constantly keep the "Big Idea" for the unit in mind during your planning so that your lessons reflect that concept.

3. Daily Lesson Planning - These lessons make up your unit plan, and are more detailed. The standard daily lesson plan format in Ontario is the 3-part lesson plan.

Part 1: Getting Started: 10-15 minutes - Review a previous lesson or concept to evoke prior knowledge, skills, and strategies that students may utilize in today's lesson

Part 2: Working On It: 30-40 minutes - Main phase of the lesson, teacher is coordinating student learning through problem solving. Students are actively engaged in constructing knowledge, and utilizing the problem solving model. The teacher circulates around the room making observations, anecdotal notes, asking students questions, and keeping students on task.

Part 3: Reflecting and Connecting/Consolidation and Practice: 10-15 minutes - Teacher coordinates the students in a meaningful discussion of the "Working On It" problem solving piece. May include bansho, math congress, gallery walk, guided questioning, whole group discussion, rich mathematical language, and showcase students using multiple problem solving methods. After the discussion, students are then engaged in completing a reflection component in their math journal or completing one or two more problems to reinforce the learning.

For more information on the 3-Part Lesson Plan from The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat Capacity Building Series please visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/LearningBlocks.pdf.