Elementary Math Philosophy

Math

Philosophy

Today's society expects schools to insure that all students have an opportunity to become mathematically literate, are capable of extending their learning, and have an equal opportunity to learn and become informed citizens capable of understanding issues in a technological society. As society changes, so must schools.

Educational goals for students must reflect the importance of mathematical understanding.

Toward this end, the Elementary Mathematics Program embraces five general goals* for all students:

that students learn to value mathematics

that students become confident in their ability to do mathematics

that students become mathematical problem solvers

that students learn to communicate mathematically

that students learn to reason mathematically

These goals imply that students should be exposed to numerous and varied, interrelated experiences that encourage them to value the mathematical enterprise, to develop mathematical habits of mind, and to understand and appreciate the role of mathematics in human affairs.

Students should be encouraged to explore, to guess, and to correct errors so that they gain confidence in their ability to solve complex problems. Students should read, write, and discuss mathematics and they should speculate, test and build arguments about their assumption's validity.

*Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - March 1989.

Goals

Demonstrate a knowledge of numbers and numeration.

Demonstrate the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers.

Demonstrate knowledge and application of operational skills related to fractions.

Demonstrate knowledge and application of operational skills related to decimals.

Demonstrate knowledge and an ability to use ratios, proportions and percents.

Demonstrate the ability to estimate.

Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to use time concepts, measurement, and money.

Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to use mathematical concepts related to geometry.

Demonstrate knowledge and the ability to use graphs, probability and statistics.

Demonstrate the ability to use problem solving strategies.

Demonstrate knowledge of negative numbers.

Demonstrate knowledge concerning integers and real numbers.