This ministry document provides an in-depth explanation of the seven mathematical processes students need to learn and apply in order to meet the expectations in the curriculum. Each process is elucidated with examples in the following areas: role of the student; instructional strategies; sample questions; and sample feedback. There is also an explanation on how to connect the seven processes with the provincial achievement chart.
Mathematical Processes
Learning Mathematics vs. Following Rules (2007)
This four page article is from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s ‘Research into Practice series.’ The main question asked in the article is, how can teachers help students acquire a deep understanding in mathematics? The author posits that we should be encouraging students at the primary level to use their own methods to solve problems rather than simply teaching algorithms. He goes on to suggest some strategies for encouraging children to find their own solutions.
Student Interaction in the Math Classroom (2007)
This document is from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s Research into Practice series. It focuses on how teachers can “support meaningful, high-quality interaction in the math classroom.” The four page article discusses the importance of moving from computation-based math questions to questions that require higher-order thinking. It also raises the issue of the challenges that teachers face in engaging students in complex math thinking. In order to meet those challenges strategies to encourage high-quality student interaction and guidelines for whole-class math talk are outlined.
Steps in Solving a Math Problem
This K-6 reproducible checklist allows students to show that they have followed all of the steps in solving a math problem.
Action Plan for Problem Solving
This resource is a graphic organizer for developing a teaching action plan. The example used is how to teach problem solving in math. The different facets of the plan are: establishing goals, ensuring focus, monitoring progress, setting short and long-term goals, and deciding what resources can support the teaching plan.
Problem Solving Strategies Posters
These eight printable posters are useful for showing students the different methods they can use to solve problems in math: use concrete materials; act it out; draw a diagram; make a list; find a pattern; guess and check; use computation; and simplify the problem.
Illuminations
This website was created by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The site contains standards-based lesson plans and unit plans. The 541, K-12 lessons are organized, and searchable, by grade and standard. Many of the lesson plans have links to activity sheets and math tools mentioned in the plan. There are also 102 math activities on the site, as well as links to 724 reviewed web resources.
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 4 Oral Language (2008)
Volume Four, “Oral Language”, builds on the research findings and best practices in Literacy for Learning: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy in Grades 4 to 6 in Ontario. It provides a framework to support the implementation of learning activities that address the expectations in the Oral Communication strand of the Language curriculum.
Additionally, it provides in-depth discussions of the various forms of oral language that are used in classroom instruction and learning.
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 4 Oral Language
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 5 Reading (2008)
Volume Five, “Reading”, builds on and extends the research findings and best practices in Literacy for Learning: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy in Grades 4 to 6 in Ontario. It provides a framework to support the implementation of learning activities that address the expectations in the reading strand of the revised 2006 Language curriculum. In addition, it provides in-depth discussion of reading theory and practice as used in classroom instruction and learning in the junior grades.
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 5 Reading
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 6 Writing (2008)
Volume 6, “Writing”, builds on and extends the research findings and best practices in Literacy for Learning: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy in Grades 4 to 6 in Ontario. It provides a framework to support the implementation of learning activities that address the expectations in the Writing strand of the Language curriculum (revised, 2006). In addition, it provides in-depth discussion of writing theory and practice as used in classroom instruction and learning in the junior grades.
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction (Grades 4 – 6) Volume 6 Writing