At GAE, math instruction is comprised of five components. Our common goal is to help children think mathematically and apply problem solving strategies to real life situations.

What is “Balanced Math”? A balanced (deliberate design of instruction and assessment) program is designed to produce mathematically powerful students – students who can solve problems and also communicate their understanding to others.

1. Computational Skills, Math Review & Mental Math:

• Emphasize the development of number sense.
• Practice procedural mathematics and computational skills every day.
• Practice computing problems mentally.
• Investigations:  Quick Images, classroom routines and/or ten-minute math, and teacher resources.

2. Problem Solving:

• Provide structures for problem-solving activities related to a current unit focus. 
• Gives students opportunity to communicate their mathematical thinking through words, pictures, and/or numbers.
• Investigations is problem solving based.  (Other resources include Study Island, The Problem Solver, and teacher resources.)

3. Conceptual Understanding:

• Identify particular grade-level topics that are essential for student understanding.  (based on district and state math standards)
• Topic becomes focus of conceptual math unit.
• Align instruction with end-of-unit assessment.

4. Mastery of Math Facts:

• Fact recall through student understanding of patterns.
• Program of accountability enabling all students to learn their facts by the end of elementary school.

5. Common Formative Assessment:

• Align school-based assessment for learning to math Power Standards.
• Provides teachers with valid feedback as to students’ current understanding of Power Standards in focus.
• Could include:  performance assessments, Study Island benchmarking, District performance assessments, and teacher prepared assessments.