Special Education Teacher Christine Kiernan starts off the math lesson with a visual demonstration on the SmartBoard.
Students in Christine Kiernan’s classroom at Questar III BOCES’ George Washington School know to sit down at the horseshoe table in front of the SmartBoard for the day’s math lesson. The lesson begins with a review of basic addition principles and then moves to a visual presentation on adding groups of 10. The students watch the demonstration with focus and answer questions when asked.
Dashawn Parson and Teaching Assistant Lindsay Davis Flynn work on adding groups of ten.
Quincy Ketter and Teaching Assistant Stephanie Brink complete a lesson from the enVisionMATH program.
The use of technology like Kiernan’s SmartBoard and visual manipulatives such as blocks or counters is part of a program called enVisionMATH used in Questar III grades K-6 math classes. The program, which aligns with the new Common Core Learning Standards, includes multiple teaching approaches based on the student’s intellectual abilities.
According to Kiernan, her students are learning math concepts much quicker and with more ease because they can “see” it, which ultimately makes her job easier as well. “The kids love the bright colors on the program’s materials and the games make it so much more fun because there’s less sitting down,” she said. “They are more eager to learn.”
And, because the program was written specifically to meet the Common Core Learning Standards, it saves her from having to figure out how to align her teaching methods with the new standards.
The Common Core Learning Standards require a much deeper conceptual understanding of math than in the past. Students are required to make sense of problems and explain how they reached their answer, requiring a great deal of thinking and interpretation as opposed to the old method of “exposure” and use of calculators.
According to Questar III Special Education Director Robin Sobol, the enVisionMATH program was chosen by Questar III teachers and math experts based on their experience during a pilot program conducted during the previous school year. “The teachers are excited about it,” said Sobol. “And we know that when teachers are excited, the students will be more successful.”
In addition, the program was written by Pearson, the same company that writes the New York State assessments, so teachers know they are teaching the necessary skills students need to take and pass their exams.
The enVisionMATH program offers differentiated lessons to meet the needs of various students within a classroom. Lessons come with variations by ability level including English Language Learners, special needs, below level and advanced/gifted students. The program also features numerous reteaching options to present the content in a new or different way for students who may struggle initially or to simply reinforce the concept.
The language and vocabulary used in the program remains the same throughout each grade level, providing the consistency students need in order to continue to build on their acquired skills.
“The skills they learn here are 21st century skills and communication,” said Sobol. “The younger we can teach these skills, the more successful students will be in college and careers.”
