Information about K-5 Mathematics

Teaching mathematics even to young students goes far beyond the teaching of arithmetic.  Teaching of mathematics asks that students come to understand the “big ideas”, or mathematical concepts, that go beyond learning facts and algorithms.  (Algorithms are steps memorized to enable you to solve problems. Think about steps for “borrowing” in subtraction or those for doing long division; both are algorithms.) Teaching mathematics does not mean that facts and processes are not taught, but it means that students are actively involved in learning math so that they come to understand the concepts.  

Information to help parents learn more about and better understand Investigations, the K-5 math program used in Stonington, is available through the following links:

• General Information about Investigations
• http://www.alliance.brown.edu/investigations/
• http://investigations.terc.edu/
• http://investigations.scottforesman.com/
• For more specific information:
• Research about the program
• http://investigations.terc.edu/research
• http://investigations.scottforesman.com/pdfs/validation.pdf
• Information specifically for families
• To read the book Helping Families Learn Mathematics for free – http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10434.html/
• In introduction to Investigations - http://investigations.scottforesman.com/pdfs/parentpage.pdf
• A variety of parent resources - http://www.alliance.brown.edu/investigations/resources/math-resources.htm
• Work with Gifted Students - http://www.alliance.brown.edu/investigations/spotlight/archive/apr03.html
• The Algorithm Issue - http://www.alliance.brown.edu/investigations/algoissue.html

You may also find this general site of ways to help your child with math useful:

www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/math/index.html