Heads Up: Introducing Our New K-8 Math Curriculum
The following message from Director of Curriculum and Assessment Chantal Balogh appeared in this weekend’s Heads Up, a weekly email for Friends Academy families.
At long last, I am excited to introduce you to our new math curriculum! Starting next school year, all students in Kindergarten through eighth grade will engage with Illustrative Mathematics. This problem-based curriculum is designed to make math relevant, accessible, and engaging to all learners, allowing for real-world application in life and the careers of tomorrow.
After piloting three math programs in select classes in the Lower School, Middle School, and the Sally Borden Program this year, the Math Committee chose Illustrative Mathematics because it proved to meet all of our requirements: a K-8 curriculum that provides consistency of learning across all grades, aligns with national and state standards, is grounded in best practices for effective math education, engages students in real-world problem solving, and is accessible for our diverse population of learners.
In February, I wrote about “rich tasks”: inquiry-based problems that have multiple entry points and promote collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. When working on rich tasks, students are encouraged to push their thinking and consider multiple methods to solve problems – both through traditional numerical equations as well as visuals, discussions, and modeling. This type of learning aligns with Friends Academy’s philosophy of education and is akin to the inquiry-based collaborative work that we prioritize throughout the entire school.
To ensure we selected high-quality instructional material, we consulted with EdReports, an independent nonprofit organization that works with teachers, administrations, and school leaders. We also evaluated ratings from CURATE (CUrriculum RAtings by TEachers), a panel of Massachusetts teachers convened through the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I encourage you to look through the Illustrative Mathematics EdReports for K-5 and 6-8 and the CURATE report for 6-8 to read what teachers say about the program.