School district adopts new math curriculum

Hoping to piggy back on teaching methods that keep Singapore’s students ranked high in math proficiency, the Wahkiakum School District’s board followed elementary school teachers’ recommendations to adopt Math in Focus, a new curriculum for $27,000 at its June meeting.

First grade teacher Jamie Cothren described her students breaking numbers into parts and doing sums such as 47 plus 23, easily with the strategy.

“The curriculum has a strong emphasis on problem solving with a focus on in-depth understanding of essential math skills,” Leitz said. “The method uses a ruler rather than pies to teach fractions.”

The curriculum has also been adopted by Longview School District, and local teachers will take part in six days of trainings and monthly meetings with the Longview teachers to learn to use the new materials.

Stephanie Leitz described a lengthy process to choose a new curriculum designed to get students ready for algebra in ninth grade. Teachers investigated programs in other districts.

Math trainer Deb Gribskov will offer First Steps training, which can be applied to any curriculum as part of the staff development.

“How far behind are our kids?” asked Director Michelle Budd, whose father-in-law, Garland Budd is a volunteer math tutor at the school.

Leitz added that the lessons could be tailored to particular students’ needs.