Differentiated Instruction for Advanced Math Learners

As we reflect on a new math curriculum, the implementation of Math Makes Sense at the grade 7 & 8 level, and opportunities available through Cyber School for our advanced Math learners, hopefully the attached information will be useful as programming decisions are considered for students.

In order to further facilitate decision making, we are also including each high
school's list of options for grade 8 students who have completed Math90 online.

As the Math Makes Sense resource moves into grade 7 and 8, it is timely to consider how this resource better supports differentiating instruction for the various skill levels in a classroom and specifically those students with strong math capabilities.

The approach to math instruction used in the Math Makes Sense resource leaves the door open for students to expand their math learning to whatever level possible. Creative and multiple solutions are encouraged. Learning is consistently done in the context of real-world problems. Students are encouraged and supported to approach problems in whatever way "makes sense" to them. The consistent question they must be able to explain is "How do you know?" Students are provided opportunity to read about, view, write about, listen to, and discuss mathematical ideas. The approach empowers students to be independent thinkers and problem solvers. The outcome of our math curriculum and the Math Makes Sense resource is for students to have a deep understanding of math and to be able to see the application of math to their world.

Math Makes Sense adopts the philosophy that math involves social learning. Students are engaged in activities that allow them to talk about their math thinking and to problem solve together. The lessons in the resource include questions that increase in difficulty. There are many more questions provided than what most students need to demonstrate that they have grasped a skill or concept. However, the number of questions challenges those who have time to go even further in their thinking. It is not the type of resource that a student could go through independently and in isolation.

Our grade seven and eight teachers will be transitioning to using this new resource and implementing a renewed provincial math curriculum. Our school division is supporting teachers through in-service opportunities and the presence of a teacher on assignment who is available to work with teachers as they journey through this new professional learning.

However, we must be mindful of the needs of our students who are advanced in their math learning. There is a certain population of students in our school division who will be beyond the grade 8 math curriculum before they even start the year. Cyber School and the availability of taking Math 90 online, will continue to be an important option for these students. This opportunity, for the most part, was designed to keep advanced grade 8 math students motivated and challenged and working with material that was at their instructional level. This, however, is not an option that would be recommended for all students. Classroom teachers are in the best position to determine the students for whom this option should be considered.

The following questions are intended to help guide the decision making regarding this option:

1. Is single subject acceleration through an online course the best option for this student?

2. Might this student benefit more from enrichment and in-depth learning opportunities instead of acceleration?

3. Does an online course fit the learning style of the student?

4. Is the school able to support the student by providing supervised computer time to work on the online course?

5. Does the student have internet access at home?

6. Are parents aware of the fact that the student will need to do additional work at home in order to complete this course, and does the student have the time to work at home?

7. Is the student an independent and self-motivated worker?

8. Does your assessment information reflect that the student has mastered the learning outcomes of the current grade? (Math Makes Sense assessment tools, Assessment for Learning - Grade 8)