Goals of the Common Core Math Standards
The Common Core Standards (“Standards”) are intended to improve student achievement by having a “common” set of standards nationwide.
The thinking is this: If students are able to achieve these standards, they will be much more prepared for college and /or their careers. Also, if students are taught and assessed by the same standards at each grade level or subject, the gap between underperforming and high-performing students should narrow.
The Standards are designed to help students master eight mathematical practices: 1) Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; 2) Reason abstractly and quantitatively; 3) Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; 4) Model with mathematics; 5) Use appropriate tools strategically; 6) Attend to precision; 7) Look for and make use of structure; and 8) Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
The Standards place a strong emphasis on critical thinking and demonstrating knowledge of far fewer skills and concepts than previous standards. The hope is that students will gain proficient knowledge of these concepts rather than just a basic knowledge of the many topics presented in the past.
In doing so, the Standards are directly addressing the criticism that American curriculum has been “a mile wide and an inch deep” for many, many years, and has been a main cause for American students testing well behind their foreign counterparts.
At Mathnasium, we understand the Common Core. The Common Core attempts to closely integrate number sense and critical thinking skills and, as such, has been more in common with the Mathnasium approach than previous state standards.
The Mathnasium program has always complemented and supplemented existing math programs used in public and private schools. Our support for the Common Core will be no different.
Mathnasium’s specialty is making math make sense to kids. The program is designed for students in grades 1-12, who usually attend the Center two times per week for an hour each session. Mathnasium’s focus is on both remediation and enrichment, providing an opportunity for each student to progress from their current level of understanding. After being given an oral and written assessment which allows Mathnasium to form a three-dimensional picture of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, a customized program is assembled for each student that caters to individual learning styles. The Mathnasium Method of instruction is delivered by trained and experienced instructors on the premises, using a combination of guided practice, manipulatives, and math games to engage students at every level.
Multiple independent studies by EyeCues Education Systems since 2004 have found Mathnasium to be effective 100% of the time, increasing student performance on standard-based tests in 20 sessions or fewer. Students’ skills jumped at least a grade level, and in most cases, multiple grade levels. Additionally, a 2010 national study of Mathnasium parents showed that 98% agree with the statement: “Since attending Mathnasium, my child’s math skills and understanding have improved.”
Mathnasium Centers are located in Bayside (718-747-MATH), and Great Neck (516-482-MATH).
