| Family Math NightsSeattle Schools hosted a | | | | that students move progressively through a |
| series of Family Math Nights to help parents | | | | range of math experiences that reflect the |
| and students learn about upcoming changes and | | | | same practices and approach. The research |
| challenges to the Seattle Public School | | | | also indicated that the curriculum and |
| Mathematics Curriculum. Topics covered | | | | instruction need to focus on the achievement |
| included helping your child with math at | | | | standards in order for a high percentage of |
| home, questions parents can ask, | | | | students to perform at the required |
| computational fluency, algorithms and | | | | proficiency. In order to monitor this, |
| mathematical proficiency, and relationships | | | | assessment needs to monitor student progress |
| between research and the National Council of | | | | within and between grade levels. In |
| Teachers of Mathematics Standards.Teachers | | | | addition, the cultural needs of students |
| and administrators at the Family Math Nights | | | | needs to be considered in developing |
| stressed the importance of deeply engaging | | | | effective instruction.Mathematics Curriculum |
| all elementary school students in mathematics | | | | TimelineIn October 2005, the Seattle Public |
| instruction that is meaningful in order to | | | | School District began the process by |
| create a learning environment in which | | | | selecting a committee of teacher, parents, |
| students are math literate. The meetings were | | | | and administrators. This committee included |
| led by Gini Stimpson, a University of | | | | representatives for English Language |
| Washington Mathematics Educator and Senior | | | | Learners, Special Education, and various |
| Researcher. Examples of student work from | | | | ethnic groups. This committee sought feedback |
| Seattle Public Schools were shared in order | | | | throughout the community to choose the best |
| to show what students were currently learning | | | | teaching program for Seattle Public School |
| and what more they needed to learn. In | | | | students. The community has had many |
| addition, parents received valuable | | | | opportunities to learn about the various |
| suggestions for how to help their children | | | | programs and offer feedback on which ones |
| improve math skills at home.Mathematics | | | | would be most appropriate for Seattle Public |
| Curriculum Adoption OverviewSeattle Public | | | | School students.From November 2005 to January |
| Schools began a district wide initiative to | | | | 2006, the committee developed a screening |
| improve the mathematics curriculum in late | | | | process that offered opportunities for the |
| 2005. The last time that new textbooks and | | | | community and families to increase awareness |
| curriculum were considered varied for each | | | | and understanding of the new mathematics |
| level of schooling. Seattle Public High | | | | curriculum and why it was chosen. From |
| Schools last revised their curriculum in | | | | February to March, the committee evaluated |
| 1993, elementary schools in 1998, and middle | | | | the best candidate programs in order to |
| schools in 2000. The push for new textbooks | | | | recommend a program to the Seattle Public |
| and curriculum is based on the recognition | | | | School Board. Based on their recommendation, |
| that student achievement must improve in | | | | the Seattle Public School Board determined |
| order to meet the new graduation requirements | | | | the best mathematics program for the students |
| in Seattle Public Schools. In order to meet | | | | of the Seattle Public School System.Stacy |
| these new graduation requirements, research | | | | Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| into the best mathematics programs available | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. |
| began.After conducting extensive research | | | | public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a |
| into new mathematics curriculum, Seattle | | | | nose for research and writes stimulating news |
| Public Schools concluded that the new | | | | and views on school issues. |
| programs must be similar for each grade so | | | | |