What to expect from Math this year (7th and 8th Grade Edition)

If you are like me, you are a creature of habit.  Familiar routines are a source of comfort rather than boredom.  This doesn’t mean I resist change but it also means I am not actively seeking it out.  Nevertheless, change is inevitable and so here I am navigating the waters of middle school math without Gary Lawrence at the helm.  So, how different will Math be this year?  The simple answer is, not too much.  I had taught Math with Mr. Lawrence for the past 13 years and so am familiar with the curriculum and the content.  The scope and sequence of what we will be covering will not be very different from previous years.  However, there will be one big change and that is the incorporation of the online tool Mathspace.  Together with the textbook, Mathspace will be used as a tool for students to practice what they are learning in the classroom.

So, what is Mathspace?

Here is the link to their website.  You can look around and see what they are about.  Also, each child should be able to login to their account and so you can see the interface as well as the different tasks they might be working on.

One of my goals this year for math is to challenge each individual student and I believe Mathspace allows me that flexibility.  Using the diagnostic tests as well as using the tracking system, I can figure out the level of proficiency a student is displaying in a topic and either assign them materials from a higher textbook or assign them to review problems to address any gaps.  Also, each assignment is adaptive and therefore uniquely challenges each student depending on their level of proficiency.  If you have any questions about the math curriculum please feel free to email me.