Math in Focus
In the spring of 2011 after an extensive review process by a math committee commissioned by the HCA administration, Heritage made the decision to adopt a new math curriculum, Math in Focus. We chose this curriculum because of the stellar track record of Singapore Math, the impressive presentation in the materials, and the abundance of resources and support provided for teachers, students, and parents. Math in Focus was selected because it aligned with HCA’s Academic Excellence standards.
The Administration and Faculty spent the summer preparing for a year of transition. The teachers worked diligently to prepare their lessons and work through the groundwork that was needed for implementing our new curriculum. As the year has gone on, they have persevered through complicated worksheets and unfamiliar instructional and assessment strategies.
February 15-16, 2012, a few of us attended a Singapore Math Conference in Denver. The things we learned helped us to understand the curriculum in a profound way. As we sat in a room full of teachers, it was inspiring to see “light bulbs go on” as our presenter explained the strategies of Singapore Math. None were as excited as those of us from Heritage. So many of the questions we had from the beginning were being answered in just a few basic foundational concepts. We realized that the curriculum we had chosen was not just the most Academically Excellent; it was not merely the most colorful and full of resources. It was a way of doing math that made sense to every person in the room. It was a way of doing math that changed the way one sees numbers and the world around him. It was a way of doing math that explained why, not just how. We left with a better understanding of every page of our curriculum, and a new vision for what needed to be done to support our teachers and parents, and to help our students gain their own “number sense.”
We are making some changes, and we need your support. Please open your minds to a way of learning and thinking that is most likely unfamiliar. Please trust that there is purpose behind every assignment and every strategy. Please be patient as we re-train our own brains to think in this revolutionary way. Believe that even though this learning curve is a necessary reality, your children will walk away from Math this year with a better understanding of numbers and problem solving than they ever would have had under Saxon math.
Most importantly, we need you to partner with us. We must be careful not to convey to any student that the assignment he has been given is too difficult for him. We are not perfect. We will most likely send home assignments that require more time than we realized. We will sometimes fail to explain a concept well enough for your child to be able to do it at home. When this happens, try to help her by asking her what she remembers from class. Look up the pages from the textbook (“Online Access”) and see if reviewing the textbook explanation will help him remember or you understand. If not, send it back to school unfinished and her teacher will help her with it.
Also, take the time, if you can, to learn a little bit about Singapore Math and the methods it implements. Singapore Math is developed around three foundational concepts that are very straight-forward: Number Bonds, Place Value, and Model Drawing. Understanding these concepts reveals a world of numbers you may not have known existed. We have provided basic overviews of these concepts here (see links to the side). There is also more in-depth exploration of each topic as well as research, history, and theory. In addition, we held a workshop to show how these concepts could be applied to simple and complex math problems. This workshop proved to be very valuable to many parents and can be viewed on the right column of this page.
Another way you can help your child to succeed is to “play math” with him at home. This is not something reserved for kindergarten children. The Math in Focus curriculum uses a concept that is known as CPA: Concrete, to Pictorial, to Abstract. It is integral to every lesson, but is also used when a student struggles with a concept. The teachers will go back to the concrete experience with objects that the student can touch and move. Once the concept is practiced this way (Concrete), the student will then use pictures to see the same concept on paper (Pictorial), and then they will move to a problem in which they have to come up with strategies for possible solutions (Abstract). This can be done at home, as well. The Math in Focus website (http://www.hmheducation.com/singaporemath/helping-your-child.php) has great ideas for each grade to get you started.
We are committed to supporting you as you help your child advance their mathematical thinking. We have extra worksheets and game ideas. Our website will be continually updated with links and helpful information to facilitate success, especially during this transitional phase. Questions and ideas can be emailed to math@heritagechristian.info.
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