This is a link to a web site that gives a very good overview to the current elementary math philosophy based on the NCTM Standards.  Links Learning has some great resources for teachers, parents and students.  The page I have linked takes you to the Math Overview section of the Teachers section, but you can easily navigate to other sections of the site by using the tabs at the top of the page.  The reason I linked this page is because from this first page you can watch a movie that gives you a good general overview to what the math curriculum is.  I suggest watching the movie view because it is more comprehensive.  The other videos (Curriculum, Instructional, and Assessment) are really geared more for teachers and administrators, but parents may find them of interest as well.

Learning Links Math Overview

The above site gives a general overview of the K-8 Math Curriculum based on the NCTM Standards, but the State Department has produced some wonderful resources to help teachers have a clearer vision of what students need to know at the various grade levels that are specific to Connecticut.  This is a direct result of the direction Math instruction is heading based on the NCTM Standards.  This document calls for a more coherent vision for Math instruction, because one of the problems in the United States is we were teaching many different things in many different ways and this was leading to a muddled product.  The United States Math experience has also been described as “miles wide and inches deep” because in relation to other nations we try to teach what seems like every concept every year rather than focusing on certain concepts at various times and teaching it to true mastery.  I am very excited about these resources and what I see happening at the State level.  As the vision for instruction becomes more focused, you are seeing various agencies working together and sharing their resources in ways that were not possible in the past.  For instance, the Connecticut Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks is linked directly to the Connecticut Mastery Test.  The CMT Skills Checklist, which is an alternative form of assessment for children with special needs, is also in alignment with the Frameworks.  The BEST program, which certifies second year teachers through a portfolio assessment, is incorporating all three resources into their training.  These connections streamline our instruction and give teachers a clearer vision of what they are trying to teach.  It goes to reason you have a better chance of successfully teaching something if you are crystal clear on what it is you want to teach.

You can access these resources at the following link:

http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=320872

When the page opens you will see many hyperlinks.  I have listed below the links that I think you will find most useful.  Note these are lengthy PDF files.  You may want to look at them electronically or preview and only print the pages that interest you.

Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks Companion:  This is the State’s Curriculum for PreK – 12 Grade.  It is broken up into 4 Content Standards that are closely aligned with the NCTM Standards.  The only difference is Connecticut has combined Geometry and Measurement while the NCTM has left them separated. 

Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) - 4th Generation - Mathematics Handbook, 2005:

This gives you important information about the Mathematics portion of the Connecticut Mastery Test, which will be given to Grades 3 through 8 each March.  It not only tells you what is on the test at each grade level, but also how it is scored, grade level vocabulary lists, teaching suggestions and activities, and suggested web links. 

Fourth Generation Math Sample Items – DRAFT:  This gives you a chance to look at actual test items.  It does not give you a complete picture, because not all the various formats are shown, but is intended to give you a sense of the types of questions and the format the students will be facing.

Tina’s Cross Grade Sample Items:  In addition to these resources, Tina Della Bernarda, the Math Specialist for the Bristol schools has created a wonderful resource.  It shows you a complete look at the CMT objectives across grades 2 – 5.  The CMT is not given to Grade 2, but Tina has made a very educated guess as to where students ought to be at that stage to be on target for showing mastery in Third Grade.  What I like best about Tina’s resource is she arranged all 4 grades on a page so you can see the progression year to year.  If you email Tina at Tinabernarda@comcast.net she will email you a copy.

A copy of the document (in PDF form) is also available at: 

Atomic Website.