saxon math : Changes in Mathematics Curriculum
Due to an organized effort to meet the educational needs of Georgia youth, the state is in the midst of a major change in K-12 curriculum. That change has culminated in the state’s adoption of The Georgia Performance Standards which are the result of much work and solid educational decisions. Performance standards are designed to provide greater depth than the content of the previous curriculum. These standards provide clear expectations for assessment, instruction and student work. We view these changes as a positive move forward for the students of our system and the state.
Probably no other content area will experience a more drastic change than that of mathematics. This is especially true for systems such as Cartersville City who have been using SAXON math and those using similar programs. While SAXON math has served many students well in our system over the last several years, the implementation of the new Georgia Performance Standards is not fully supported by this particular series in its current format. The same is true with several currently adopted texts used in the state. Therefore, appropriate steps have been taken to address these changes. Student testing will be based upon the Performance Standards and we all want our students to be successful on those assessments as well as in mastering the content.
The sequencing of the SAXON program includes practice on previously presented skills and concepts, but is not aligned with the new math standards. Therefore, when teaching a grade level of the performance standards, teachers will need to use several resources. This may include using more than one “level” of SAXON materials. A textbook is not and cannot be the curriculum. The textbook is only one tool to be used, not the sole tool, in teaching the standards. Challenging content cannot be defined as “the next SAXON level” or the next math level. It will involve depth of knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to apply the new knowledge in many other situations. The performance standards are premised upon application…what can you do with the information.
Implementation of the new math standards began fall 2005. Sixth grade math is the first affected by these changes. Although we will still use SAXON materials, which may include several textbooks from the SAXON series, students may utilize other math resources as well. Students should not be considered as taking a particular level of SAXON such as SAXON 65, SAXON 76, or SAXON 87. They are in 6th grade math and have the responsibility to master all of the performance standards at that grade level.
In the 2006-07 school year, a new state math adoption will recommend books that are closely aligned with the standards. The Cartersville City Schools along with school systems throughout the state will evaluate those books and resources and will select appropriate ones for implementation during the 2007-08 school year. In the meantime, we will supplement and pull from other math resource materials that support instruction in the performance standards.
This is not ‘new math,’ but a new way of thinking about how we sequence students through our math program, assess their progress, and prepare them for the future. The Georgia Performance Standards are designed to provide an increased opportunity for students to advance in the area of mathematics. The implementation of these standards will prepare students for math courses at the high school and college level, as well as the required assessments at each grade level.
© 2003 Cartersville City Schools
Probably no other content area will experience a more drastic change than that of mathematics. This is especially true for systems such as Cartersville City who have been using SAXON math and those using similar programs. While SAXON math has served many students well in our system over the last several years, the implementation of the new Georgia Performance Standards is not fully supported by this particular series in its current format. The same is true with several currently adopted texts used in the state. Therefore, appropriate steps have been taken to address these changes. Student testing will be based upon the Performance Standards and we all want our students to be successful on those assessments as well as in mastering the content.
The sequencing of the SAXON program includes practice on previously presented skills and concepts, but is not aligned with the new math standards. Therefore, when teaching a grade level of the performance standards, teachers will need to use several resources. This may include using more than one “level” of SAXON materials. A textbook is not and cannot be the curriculum. The textbook is only one tool to be used, not the sole tool, in teaching the standards. Challenging content cannot be defined as “the next SAXON level” or the next math level. It will involve depth of knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to apply the new knowledge in many other situations. The performance standards are premised upon application…what can you do with the information.
Implementation of the new math standards began fall 2005. Sixth grade math is the first affected by these changes. Although we will still use SAXON materials, which may include several textbooks from the SAXON series, students may utilize other math resources as well. Students should not be considered as taking a particular level of SAXON such as SAXON 65, SAXON 76, or SAXON 87. They are in 6th grade math and have the responsibility to master all of the performance standards at that grade level.
In the 2006-07 school year, a new state math adoption will recommend books that are closely aligned with the standards. The Cartersville City Schools along with school systems throughout the state will evaluate those books and resources and will select appropriate ones for implementation during the 2007-08 school year. In the meantime, we will supplement and pull from other math resource materials that support instruction in the performance standards.
This is not ‘new math,’ but a new way of thinking about how we sequence students through our math program, assess their progress, and prepare them for the future. The Georgia Performance Standards are designed to provide an increased opportunity for students to advance in the area of mathematics. The implementation of these standards will prepare students for math courses at the high school and college level, as well as the required assessments at each grade level.
© 2003 Cartersville City Schools
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