Curriculum

Illustrative Math

What is a problem-based curriculum?

In a problem-based curriculum, students spend most of their time in class working on carefully crafted and sequenced problems. Teachers help students understand the problems, ask questions to push their thinking, and orchestrate discussions to be sure that the mathematical takeaways are clear. Learners gain a rich and lasting understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures and experience applying this knowledge to new situations. Students frequently collaborate with their classmates—they talk about math, listen to each other’s ideas, justify their thinking, and critique the reasoning of others. They gain experience communicating their ideas both verbally and in writing, developing skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

This kind of instruction may look different from what you experienced in your own math education. Current research says that students need to be able to think flexibly in order to use mathematical skills in their lives (and also on the types of tests they will encounter throughout their schooling). Flexible thinking relies on understanding concepts and making connections between them. Over time, students gain the skills and the confidence to independently solve problems that they’ve never seen before.

EL EDUCATION

During Unit 1 of this module, your student will look at different aspects of tools and work. By
the end of the module, students will be able to participate in a discussion around the module
guiding question: “What do we need to make magnificent things?” I am writing today to explain
what your student will be learning, describe the activities that will support this learning, and
suggest how to support this learning at home. I hope that you will plan to join us at the end of
our deep study to celebrate all of your student’s learning!
What will your student be learning?

Students will begin to study the topic of tools and work with a focus on learning about tools and
the jobs they do. The learning will be focused on these ideas:
■ Tools make our lives easier by helping us do work.
■ There are different types of tools for different types of work
Students will also practice these reading foundation skills:
■ Identify and write the sound for most consonants and vowels
■ Segment (break apart) the individual sounds of spoken, one-syllable words, and blend them
back together
■ Decode (read) and encode (write) regularly spelled, one-syllable words
How will your student be learning?
Throughout the unit, your student will read, think, listen, talk, write, and ask questions about
the topic of why we need tools. Students will participate in these activities, among others, to
build their literacy skills:
■ Listening to read-alouds of a variety of texts about tools
■ “Tool Challenges” to decide which tool is best for a job
■ Singing songs about tools
■ Engaging in conversations with classmates
■ Working with tools to practice and try them out
■ Writing and drawing about why we need tools

What can you do to support your student’s learning at home?
Here are a few activities that you can do at home with your student to support his or her learning:
■ Ask your student to talk with you about this question: Why do we need tools?
■ Read books and sing songs about tools from home or at the library.
■ Identify different types of tools around your home, explain the job they do, and help your
student learn how to use them.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss your student’s learning.