Throughout the math exploration at Alice King there is focus on building number sense, reasoning, problem solving, and mathematical communication skills.

Research shows that there is not one best way to teach math, or any other subject for that matter. Rather, it is a combination of different teaching strategies that leads to the highest math proficiency. Here at Alice King we not only want students to know how to compute mathematical equations; we also want students to conceptually understand “why” we solve problems in multiple ways. This way, when students come across a problem they have not previously encountered, they will have the foundation and skills to best approach and solve the problem. According to Marilyn Burns, a leading math instructor in professional development for K-12 teachers, “Children need to learn to think, reason, solve problems, and, at the same time, develop an appreciation of and an interest in mathematics. Without this, students’ mathematical futures will always be limited.”

In order to address the New Mexico State Standards, our math curriculum will be supplemented with Marilyn Burns, Singapore Math, and/or teacher created activities including a four block template for solving word problems. The explorative investigations written by Marilyn Burns provide students with a hands on approach to problem solving. By using a combination of direct instruction alongside exploration, students will be taught important computational strategies while also fostering curiosity, reasoning, and connections to the real world.