| We believe: - equity in mathematics education requires high expectations and strong support in a student-centered, differentiated environment;
- all students should be provided a curriculum which is coherent, well articulated, and integrates real-world mathematical situations
- all students learn mathematics best by actively building new knowledge from prior mathematical experiences;
- mathematics should be integrated into other subject areas;students learn mathematics through the use of critical reasoning and higher level thinking skills;
- students should be assessed using methods that contain various Webb’s Depth of Knowledge levels
- assessment methods should measure the learning of important mathematical concepts and furnish useful information to teachers, students, and families;
- technology is an essential tool in teaching and learning mathematics;
- students should develop an appreciation of mathematics;
- communicating and speaking mathematically is essential for all learners; and
- effective communication with families is beneficial for all learners.
Best practices guide us to: - promote the use of critical thinking skills through the use of questioning and authentic real-world tasks;
- encourage the use of multiple problem solving strategies;
- develop a community of learners that fosters student participation and discourse;
- provide flexible, differentiated and balanced instruction that is student centered and teacher facilitated;
- provide differentiated classroom instruction using a variety of teaching methods and interventions;
- utilize appropriate resources and technology to enhance and support student learning;
- provide clear and challenging goals with effective feedback;
- use a variety of assessments to determine student progress and inform instructional practices;
- provide students with opportunities for self assessment and reflection;
- provide opportunities for students to develop concepts or procedures to a high level of mathematical fluency;
- model and encourage the use of appropriate vocabulary to communicate mathematical ideas; and
- provide appropriate accommodations and modifications for students with special education needs.
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