Iowa CoreMathematics Standards:Focusing on Fewer Topics and Learning More

Laura Fricke, Jan Kloberdanz, and Dr. Susan Pecinovsky

Math Pilot Team2008-2009 – Materials Adoption CommitteeCommittee of teachers

One from each building and each grade levelCurriculum materials replacement

very old no curricular cycle Iowa Basic Skills – low performance

Investigations = StandardsTeam has evolved to Elementary Math Leadership Team

Heart and soul of elementary mathematics curriculumA team with courage!

The Way It Used to Be enVision Math – drove the curriculum Previous standards – locally developed Coverage and spiraling back Pacing guides designed to support enVision

Math Grade level islands Grade level growth

Data After Four YearsIowa Assessment Scores:

6th grade:Proficiency 56%, did not make growth

goal

5th grade: Proficiency 68%, did make growth goal

The Problem Clearly Defined•Elementary Math Leadership Team

•Data discussions across the grades

Our Vision

Prioritize standards for critical learning Align enVision Math lessons Realign lessons for which there are no

standards Identify and assess mastery content to

support students’ learning of upper grade-level math

The Way It Is Now… enVision Math – supports the curriculum Content is aligned to Iowa Core Focus (314 lessons out of 960, 33%, realigned)

Pacing guides designed to support instruction Interdependence among grade levels Pilot year growth in grade 5 almost 6%

Our Process, The ProductsOur Process:

1. Prioritize IC Standards

2. Align enVision Math lessons into prioritized standards

3. Realign lessons for which there are no standards (focus)

4. Identify and assess mastery content (coherence and mastery)

The Products:

1. Grade 5 IC Standards, Prioritized (working copy)

Content Emphasis by Cluster K-8

2. Grade 5 Alignment Guide and Pacing Guide

3. Realigned Content and Transitional Content Tables

4. Mastery Content Table and Iowa Core Mastery Content

What We LearnedFOLLOW THE IOWA CORE:

❖ Prioritize and align❖ Keep content - Paperclips and 5th grade fractions ❖ Let go of content – Greatest Common Factor❖ Research current curriculum first

Jason Zimba and the Design PrinciplesDon’t Assume! Letting go of what is familiar is difficult. Even master teachers will need coaching.

Iowa Core ResourcesFocus by Mike SchmokerHow the Brain Learns Mathematics by David A. Sousawww.corestandards.org (Common Core Standards)https://www.educateiowa.gov/iowacore (Iowa Common Core)http://ime.math.arizona.edu/progressions/ (Progressions of Content)http://www.illustrativemathematics.org/ (Illustrative Mathematics)

Iowa Core Resources

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Math_Publishers_Criteria_K-8_Spring 2013_FINAL.pdf

(“K-8 Publisher’s Criteria for the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics”)http://www.smarterbalanced.org/k-12-education/common-core-state-standards-tools-resources

/ (IC Design Principles Video with Jason Zimba)http://www.achievethecore.org/content/upload/Focus_in_Math_06.12.2013.pdf (“Content Emphases by Cluster K-8,” both consortia have designated clusters at each grade level as major, supporting, or additional)

Thank you!