Math Matters:

1
Math Matters
How the Common Core Will Help the United States
Bring Up Its Grade on Mathematics Education

• Max Marchitello and Will Ragland
• September 16, 2015

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Whats the deal with Common Core Math?

• Its not how I learned math!
• The problems are confusing!
• Will it even work?

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My kids used to love math. Now it makes them cry.
Thanks standardized testing and common core!
Louis CK (_at_louisck) April 28 2014
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Goals of Math Matters

• Clearly explain the need for the Common Core.
• Document the evidence in support of teaching
  mathematics conceptually.
• Demonstrate how the Common Core incorporates
  conceptual and algorithmic math.

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The State of Math Education in the U.S.

• Low overall performance and large achievement
  gaps.
• Falling behind other countries.
• Graduates lack the necessary skills for the 21st
  century workforce.

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What does this mean?

• In mathematics, American students lack critical
  thinking and problem solving skills.
• Students in the U.S. struggle applying math to
  real-world problems.
• According to PISA, more than 25 of American
  students lack the skills that will enable them
  to participate effectively and productively in
  life.

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Teaching for Conceptual Understanding

• Conceptual math is the
• mental connections among mathematical facts,
  procedures and ideas

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Problems with Addition
The traditional algorithm introduces
misconceptions and errors. These problems are
compounded as students progress through more
challenging mathematical concepts.
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Teaching Addition Conceptually
This approach accurately teaches students about
numerical value and the relationship between
numbers.
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Teaching Conceptual Math Works

• In a study of PISA and the Common Core, the OECD
  found
• Successful implementation of the Common Core
  States would yield significant performance gains

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Research Base of Common Core Math

• Since the 1940s, there have been studies
  demonstrating that conceptual math improves
  students mathematical efficiency, critical
  thinking skills, and problem solving.
• In one such study, student performance jumped
  from the 27th percentile to the 57th percentile
  after lessons teaching math conceptually.

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Conceptual Math in the Common Core

• Knowledge and skills are scaffolded.
• The foundations of complex concepts like
  fractions and geometry are introduced early.
• Students spend more time learning concepts and
  their applications before algorithms.

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First grade math standard
Reason with shapes and their attributes. Partitio
n circles and rectangles into two and four equal
shares, describe the shares using the words
halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the
phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of
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Recommendations

• Stick with the Core!
• Give teachers more time and more PD.
• Communicate more effectively with parents.
• Make sure instructional materials actually align
  with the CCSS.
• Improve teacher preparation programs.

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The Common Core has changed how I plan my
lessons. When planning, I intentionally connect
students prior math knowledge and skills with
each new mathematical idea. Students discover
problem-solving procedures, or algorithms, as
they begin to understand and master new math
concepts.
There may be politics and controversy around all
of this but Im not thinking about that. Im just
a teacher who knows that my students are learning
and understand math better now because of Common
Core. The standards force me to think deeply
about the how and what of my content and to
make sure I am doing my best job to help create
the next generation of problem solvers.
Kelsey Lucas, middle school math, RI
Lisa Caponigro, fifth grade math teacher, MA