At its first meeting on October 6, 2008, the K-5 Math Adoption Committee began a two-year process that will result in the adoption of new K-5 Math materials for the start of the 2010-11 academic year. The committee is comprised of several elementary principals and one teacher representing each elementary school, including Choice Schools. Teachers also represent various programs, including Special Education, Safety Net, English Language Learner and Gifted Education.

The focus of committee work for the 2008-09 school year includes:

• Review research in Mathematics teaching and learning
• Conduct a district program review of strengths and areas for improvement
• Determine criteria for materials selection process
• Communicate with parents about the work

Dr. Chip Kimball, Superintendent, shared his perspectives with the committee. His principle messages included:

• A confidence in teachers as professionals with the knowledge and experience to select the best mathematics curriculum for students
• A reminder that in order for students to be “future ready,” their mathematical proficiency needs to include conceptual understanding and procedural fluency – it’s not either/or, but both
• A view to the future that once the selection is made, every teacher will use the new curriculum

The committee engaged in several activities throughout the day, which included:

• Sharing with one another their interests, desires, and hopes for this work
• Learning negotiation strategies for joint-problem solving
• Reviewing a research article from the National Research Council on How Students Learn Mathematics
• Reviewing the design, structure, and content of the state’s Revised Mathematics standards

Committee reports and requests for input will be posted throughout the process on the district website, www.lwsd.org.