I feel Everyday Math in first grade has many great components to offer to students. It has hands on materials/manipulatives and many great visuals. It offers repeated practice of concepts through "Math Boxes" and "Home Links". It also provides fun, interactive games and lessons that are teacher & kid friendly. I feel the spiral curriculum works for most children.
However I do think that for those children who lack strong number sense, concept of numbers or who show signs of low working memory the Everyday Math program is not the best choice for them. Many concepts within the program are too difficult, and they are just not ready to learn them. I feel as teachers we need to be mindful of this and look at alternative approaches to teaching certain Math concepts to struggling students so they can be successful in Math too.
3 comments:
Kathryn, I had been wondering about Everyday Math, so your post is helpful. It does seem great in the sense that it is so hands-on (adding meaning and fun certainly boosts memory and learning!), but I also wonder how well the spiraling works for the kids who just aren't getting it. In the past, I have heard from teachers that it really doesn't work for that small group of kids.
Let me try this again!!
Everyday Math provides many essentials in what early learners need to be successful. It is quite apparent that you know the strengths and weakness' of your class and which components are successful to the individual needs. For those struggling it is essential to find another approach for them meeting the standards. Sounds like you're 2 steps ahead!!
Post a Comment