The Catholic Schools in the Columbus Diocese support a mathematics curriculum that maintains a balanced approach in teaching conceptual understanding, procedural fluency and real world application and problem-solving. Mathematical discourse and reasoning are critical components in an effective math classroom. We also believe that a child's mindset about his or her math ability strongly influences how successful he or she will be.
Mathematics is a cultural phenomenon; a set of ideas, connections, and relationships that we can use to make sense of the world. At its core, mathematics is about patterns. The wide gulf between real mathematics and school mathematics is at the heart of the math problems we face in education.
-Mathematical Mindsets, Jo Boaler, 2016
Understanding must be a primary goal for all mathematics you teach.
-Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, 2014
Children’s goals and beliefs about learning are related to their mathematics performance. Experimental studies have demonstrated that changing children’s beliefs from a focus on ability to a focus on effort increases their engagement in mathematics learning, which in turn improves mathematics outcomes: When children believe that their efforts to learn make them “smarter,” they show greater persistence in mathematics learning.
-Foundations for Success, National Mathematics Advisory Panel, 2008
Elementary School Learning Progressions were designed to help educators. All of the standards are grouped by Domain. There are several ways this could be used:
Educators may use this to see where a specific grade falls within the larger picture of a child’s education. With this, you can see what a student should already know and what will be taught in the future.
This also provides a resource for either remediation or acceleration. Since standards are grouped by domain, it is easier to see the prerequisite skills a student may need.
Click here for a copy of the learning progressions.
Click here for the Coherence Map created by Achieve the Core.
The Algebra 1 course offered in 8th grade is a high school level course and should follow the Diocesan Course of Study. This Course of Study is based upon the one used by the Ohio Department of Education. More in-depth information can be found in the Ohio's Model Curriculum with Instructional Supports, Algebra 1 Course.
Other requirements as well as more information on the selection criteria can be found here.