The Reference Desk, using available evidence and research, provides quick-turnaround responses to questions submitted by education stakeholders around the Northeast and Islands Region. Every Friday, REL-NEI highlights one or two questions submitted to its Reference Desk.
Choosing a New Elementary Math Program
With the start of the new school year, the Reference Desk has received a number of questions about adopting new curricula. In particular, requesters have asked a variety of questions about new math programs, and not just how to choose one but how to measure its effectiveness. This week’s questions came from a principal looking to ensure a smooth curriculum transition in her elementary school. The resources here and in the full report discuss standards-based math programs at the elementary level.
Questions
- What resources are currently available to guide us through an adoption of a new elementary mathematics core program?
- Are there lists of core programs and evaluations of cores that we can easily access?
Research Synopsis
Reference Desk researchers
found resources that discuss implementations of a new math curriculum as well as a resource that lists and reviews several different elementary math curricula. The second resource “describes a process for considering and reviewing standards-based mathematics programs and raises questions and issues for readers to consider in their own processes, such as setting appropriate evaluation criteria, assessing district needs and resources, [and] piloting materials before selection.” The third resource contains “information that will help the reader understand the basic tenets of each of the [core math] programs, what distinguishes them from traditional curricula, and what distinguishes them from one another."
Publicly Available Resources
- What Works Clearinghouse Topic Report: Elementary School Math. July 16, 2007; 5 pages.
“The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) looked at elementary school math curricula designed to promote math knowledge and skills among elementary school students (average ages 5 to 10 years). Because there is some variation in how elementary school is organized across school districts, this review defined elementary school as a school with any of the grades, K through 5. Curricula included in this review are replicable, materials-based instructional programs that cover one or more of the following content areas: numbers, arithmetic, geometry, pre-algebra, measurement, graphing, and logical reasoning. This review considered only core, comprehensive math curricula. Core math curricula are defined as instructional programs that extend over the course of one semester or more, are central to students’ regular school instruction, and are based on any combination of text materials, manipulatives, computer software, videotapes, and other materials. This review focuses on student achievement in mathematics as the key outcome.”
- Choosing a Standards-Based Mathematics Curriculum. Goldsmith, L. T., Mark, J., & Kantrov, I.; Heinemann, Inc.; 2000; 182 pages.
“Choosing a Standards-Based Mathematics Curriculum is a guide for the selection and implementation of instructional materials based on the NCTM Standards. … This 182-page guide describes a process for considering and reviewing standards-based mathematics programs and raises questions and issues for readers to consider in their own processes, such as setting appropriate evaluation criteria, assessing district needs and resources, piloting materials before selection, and planning professional development and teacher support to facilitate implementation.”
- Curriculum Summaries, 8th Edition. September 2005; 30 pages.
“Curriculum Summaries compiles information about 12 comprehensive mathematics curriculum programs that were developed specifically to address the recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) and that are well-aligned with the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (2000). Three of the programs described here are elementary programs… This publication is intended to be a source of basic information about the mathematics programs it describes. We have included information that we think will help the reader understand the basic tenets of each of the programs, what distinguishes them from traditional curricula, and what distinguishes them from one another. We have also incorporated information that we hope will help you learn more about these programs, through contact with the publishers, developers, or implementation centers, through print materials, or through websites.” Elementary programs are described in pages 6-11.
Reference Desk researchers also recommend the Center for the Study of Mathematics Curriculum as a good place to learn more about new math curricula for all grade levels.
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