Welcome to the CBSD Elementary Mathematics Website
Children come to school with a myriad of informal mathematical experiences which bear witness to their enthusiasm and curiosity in the mathematics classroom. As active learners, children continually seek to make sense of what is presented. Ultimately, they construct a personal theory about what mathematics is and what it means to do mathematics.
The teaching and learning of mathematics begins in a math rich environment. The activities, tasks, and discourse provide a framework for the development of mathematical power in all learners. Mathematical power (NCTM, 2000) is unmistakable in learners that exhibit conceptual and procedural understandings. It is evident in learners that can communicate mathematically. Mathematical power is apparent in learners who can reason logically, problem solve, and exhibit a disposition to persevere with real-life problem solving situations.
The Central Bucks School District math curriculum aims for mathematical power in all students and addresses the Pennsylvania and Central Bucks Mathematics Standards. Our courses of study actively engage learners in this pursuit. We pull from a variety of resources to teach our curriculum, but the resources our teachers use the most are from the Everyday Math Program. If you are interested in learning more about the program please visit the Everyday Math website ( http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/ ). You will find a variety of information to help you understand the resources better. You will notice that your child will learn a variety of algorithms for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division including the traditional U.S. algorithms. Information on the non-traditional algorithms your child will be studying, including examples, is available on the Everyday Math Website ( http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/educators/computation/ ). Students are heterogeneously grouped for mathematics throughout 4th grade. Enrichment is provided regularly through differentiated instruction in the classroom. A pull out enrichment group provided by our PEN teachers is available in 4th grade (see the 4th grade curriculum page for more details). An accelerated class is offered in both 5th and 6th grade (see the 5th and 6th grade curriculum pages for more details).
