Understanding the Math Common Core Standards

This column is the second in a three-part look at Common Core Standards. While the first article focused on a general overview of Common Core, this column takes a closer look at Math Standards and part-three will review English Language Arts Standards.

Many of us remember “New Math” or even “Basic Math.” While Common Core is, for most of us, a new way of thinking about math, it is not the same as “New Math.” Experts in Common Core often refer to this way of thinking as inquiry-based, which is designed to promote a deeper understanding of math.

Over a decade ago I heard Michigan State University professor William Schmidt, one of the authors of the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) speak on the fact that the math curriculum in the United States was “a mile wide and an inch deep.” He compared our curriculum and all of the things we expect students to learn to the curriculum in other countries, who at the time were doing better that the U.S. was on international math tests. It was amazing to see the charts and graphs and then begin to understand that something had to be done to assist our students learn math in a much deeper way.

The result of many conversations, lectures, research projects and meetings with top mathematicians from across the country is the Common Core Standards. The Standards provide students with the understanding and expertise students will need to be successful in their life after school, such as in college, trade school or in their work place. Students learn to justify why a particular mathematical statement is true, rather than simply memorizing many math facts. Even though the correct answer is very important, the Common Core Standards allows students to figure out how to solve a problem, and then asks the student what mathematical imperative or method was followed to solve the problem. The journey a student takes to solve a problem is just as important as the final answer.

Over the past year our teachers at Columbia Elementary and Columbia Middle School have spent a great deal of time working through the Common Core Standards. Recently, one of the first grade teachers told me that her students love math and ask if they can expand math time. One example she used was that when her first graders were working on learning about fractions, they use play dough or clay. They are able to touch and feel the size differences in the fractions as they work on a deeper understanding of fractions. After each exercise, they reflect and discuss their understanding of what they learned.

In another example, teachers use tactile objects called manipulatives to figure out multiplication. They may use blocks to form a multiplication problem like 3 x 4. They could use 3+3+3+3 or 4+4+4; they could arrange the blocks into a rectangle with three rows of four or four rows of three. Some students may have three groups of four or four groups of three. Students may also use visual objects such as graphs, lines, and circles to help solve a problem. When watching our teachers work with students during their math lessons, they may have students in groups sitting at desks, sorting and arranging manipulatives that may be eaten like fruit loops, or sitting in a group on the floor working to solve a problem together.

Our children are excited about this new way of learning math, but they may still have questions. One of my friends watches her grandchildren after school. She recently told me that sometimes she cannot help the youngest boy who is a kindergartner. When she gets stuck, she calls over the fourth grader, who understands the new Common Core Standards and he gets to be the expert. In addition to a new way of solving some of the problems, there is new terminology that comes with the Common Core Standards. If your child or grandchild is using math terms that are foreign to you, be sure and email your child’s teacher and they will help by giving you the definition and an example.

If you are interested in learning about Columbia School District or the programs we provide to our students, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call 5175926641.

Learning About Common Core Standards

As a parent or grandparent of a school-aged child you have probably heard of the new “Common Core Standards.” To help students become successful in the increasingly prevalent global economy after they graduate from high school, the Common Core Standards provide the same high standards and academic platform for every child across the county.

Initially designed by teachers and researchers and adopted in 2010, the Common Core Standards for language arts and mathematics are now being voluntarily used in forty-five states. While the standards set forth objectives and goals, Common Core is not a curriculum. These standards translate into learning strategies that seem quite different from the traditional curricular activities that existed when we were in school.

The integration of technology through the Common Core Standards is integral to enhancing your child’s learning environment and becoming successful in a 21st Century technologically advanced world. Teachers will use various forms of technology as a platform for student learning. For example, recently a group of students created webpages that incorporated and applied academic knowledge about the 13 Colonies. The students used research strategies, combined with writing and editing text, along with knowledge of basic webpage design to integrate the information into a cohesive format which they shared with their peers.

When using Common Core Standards, teachers use their extensive knowledge of math and language arts to develop lesson plans and adapt instructional strategies best suited to increase learning activities that will benefit their students. The standards teach our children to use analytical strategies to deeply understand and apply their learning. Students will use critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to collaborate with each other academically. Some of the settings for academic discussion strategies your child’s teachers will use include one-on-one, small group, student presentation and whole class learning activities. The students will work to integrate, implement and assess informational sources using logical reasoning strategies to broaden their base of understanding.

While Common Core Standards do not include science or social studies, the Next Generation Science Standards are available and are being used in much the same way as our teachers are using the Common Core Standards for language arts and mathematics. The language arts standards address many of the goals and objectives used in a social studies classroom.

As the Columbia School District continues to implement the Common Core Standards into our curriculum, please feel free to clarify any questions by speaking with or emailing your child’s teacher or principal. The new standards will help your child be competitive with other children across the country. If you have any questions regarding the Columbia School District, please call 5175926641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.

Columbia School District

We Believe in Columbia School District! As a school family, we are proud to be a part of this community. Our excellent teachers and staff members strive for excellence as we diligently work with your student to increase his or her educational abilities. The Columbia School District, in partnership with the community, will provide a safe and positive learning environment, which will prepare all students to contribute and compete in a global society.

Our points of pride include strong academics which have produced high test scores, an award winning band program, high school pre-engineering courses which use project based learning to enhance each student’s skills, Advanced Placement courses that challenge our students and provide an opportunity for them to earn college credit, a preschool that provides a firm and enjoyable educational base for our youngest learners, and our excellent athletic programs which give our student athletes an opportunity to succeed. Columbia Central High School was awarded the Silver Medallion by U.S. News & World Reports and was honored as top school in Jackson County by Bridge Magazine.

We’re experiencing an outstanding year! In November community members passed a bond issue to give our students a safe, warm, dry and smart learning environment. We have partnered with Kingscott Architects and Granger Construction Management to remodel our buildings inside and increase safety for our students by redesigning our drop-off and pick-up areas. Phase 1 includes site work and new roofs. Phase 2 will focus on remodeling the classrooms, the addition of a secure entry vestibule at the elementary school, and remodeling of the entry at Columbia Central High School, Columbia Middle School and Columbia Options High School to create a secure entry area. Phase 2 also incudes new heating systems at all buildings, updated technology infrastructure and hardware, remodeling of common areas and playground improvements.

We hope you will find time to visit our schools as you participate in your children’s activities. You may sign up for on our weekly E-Letter update by sending me your email address. If I may assist you in any way, please feel free to call me at the Administration Office at 517-592-6641 or email me at Pamela.Campbell@myeagles.org.

Our Children Are Becoming Digital Citizens

Recently I was involved in a discussion about the ways children are learning now versus ten or twenty years ago. My sons have friends who are parents and several of them have iPads for their children. My younger son, Jon, told me that he was using his iPad at one of his friend’s home and their nine-month-old daughter crawled over to see what he was doing and to “help” him. She was used to using an iPad application aimed at pre-toddlers. The children in our preschool are only three and four-years-old and they have an innate ability to pick up one of the iPads and navigate to their area of academic application without direction from their teacher.

As part of our goal to integrate technology into the curriculum, many of our Columbia Middle School students are using Chromebooks. A couple of weeks ago, one of our fifth grade students showed me how she was putting together a website with six pages. She was building the website as part of an assignment for her social studies class. She had to design a website to compare and contrast the New England states back in the Colonial days with today. This task involved research, a lot of learning and integration of her technological skills with her recent acquisition of knowledge.

At the February Columbia School District Board of Education meeting, three sixth grade students from Columbia Middle School demonstrated how to use the Chromebooks and how to open a new document and immediately share the document with their fellow students. The students were proficient and said how much they enjoy using technology when working with their peers for editing of documents and creating group projects.

Last week the Columbia School District Curriculum Council updated the Technology Integration Vision Statement to read: Columbia School District will provide reliable access to 21st Century technology in order to meet the diverse needs of all students, empowering them to be productive and responsible contributors in an ever changing global digital society.

Our teachers are excited to help students embark on new ways of learning through technology. In addition to providing professional development to teachers to help them have the tools to empower their students to use technology effectively, the Bond Issue proposals will provide updated wiring, additional wireless access points, new technology switches, and new computers and tablets. As we work to keep Columbia School District students and teachers up to date with effective, reliable access to technology, we will continue to relate examples of how our students are benefiting from the integration of digital tools into the curriculum. If you have questions regarding Columbia Schools, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641.

Difficulty Waiting?

For people who vigorously celebrate holidays that take place throughout the year, they decorate with red and green for Christmas, fireworks and glittery signs for New Year’s, red hearts for Valentine’s, and green shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day. As the day of celebration draws near, some of us find it very difficult to wait. Many of us do not like to wait for anything. Although we have heard many times that waiting will help our patience grow, it is still difficult to wait.

After months of waiting, Columbia School District had our bond sale last week. Leading up to the bond sale our credit rating was reevaluated and increased as a result of the positive increase in our financial status and property values in the district. To fund projects associated with Proposal 1, bonds were sold in the amount of $25,924,184. This amount will fund projects aimed at remodeling, equipping and reequipping all of the Columbia School District buildings. It will also fund the acquisition and installation of instructional technology and instructional technology equipment. In addition it will fund the improvement and remodeling of playgrounds, pick-up and drop-off areas and the addition of a secure vestibule office area at the elementary school.

To fund projects associated with Proposal 2, bonds were sold in the amount of $3,950,816 for the purpose of partially remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings; erecting, furnishing and equipping an addition to the high school building; acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings; developing and improving a site and paying the remaining portion of the costs of issuing the Bonds.

Similar to the way it is challenging for us to wait for our favorite holiday, it has been difficult to wait for the sale of the bonds. The sale marks the beginning of positive change for the facilities of Columbia School District. Our design steering committees will begin meeting to discuss the remodeling of the academic areas of the buildings, concerns regarding heating and cooling and design of the new locker rooms at Columbia Central High School. If you have a specific interest in any of the areas, please email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call me at 5175926641 to volunteer. The upgrades in our buildings will benefit our students and staff members and will make way for many positive academic impacts in their learning environments.

Valentine's Day Collages

I walked into the room, paying close attention to the projects that the children were completing. Spread out around the children were strips of pink, red and white paper with covered with countless words. On the various strips of paper the children had written words like Love, Mom, Dad, Fun, and Happiness. As they continued with their task, the children glued the strips onto a paper which contained the outline of a heart. When they were finished they had pretty Valentine’s Day collages to present to their parents.

My mind couldn’t help but turn back the time and think of what type of words my children would have written on the strips of paper. This year I didn’t have small children to make heart shaped crafts for me for Valentine’s Day. Things change, people age and so do our surroundings.

As we are all acutely aware, the Columbia School District facilities have aged over time. The Facilities Improvement Team spent last winter, spring and summer analyzing and reanalyzing areas of the school buildings which had aged and needed to be remodeled or replaced. The overview of the areas were plainly revealed in our statement of request to improve the schools to make them safe, warm, dry and smart for our students. Details of the projects were contained in our analysis of the buildings and our formal request to the Michigan State Department of Treasury.

Our projects included remodeling, equipping, and reequipping all four school buildings. The analysis focused on providing elements which would enhance the safety of our students, staff, parents and community members. The safety elements included secure entry vestibules, enhanced and redesigned parking and drop off areas, and redesigned security camera system. Other safety elements included equipping the buildings with some updated furnishings, lockers and outdoor areas.

No one can disagree with two of the top priorities: remodeling our heating systems and replacing the roofs on all buildings: The warm and dry portion of our bond issue. As we continue on in the planning process we are working on reviewing all of the items which were analyzed during the past year. We are currently in the process of planning for initial site work and roofing which is included in Phase 1. These projects will be included in initial bid packages which will go out to area contractors in March. Later this year, we will begin diligently reviewing needs within the buildings including heating systems, furnishings and technology. If you have any questions, or hear something you may question, please don’t hesitate to email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org or call at 5175926641. Just like the children who presented their parents with their very best effort, your Columbia School District team of board members, administrators, teachers and steering committee members want to present the community members with a finished product that is a functional, excellent learning environment for our students.

Bond Project Update

Sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine, the fresh snow looked beautiful. As the weeks have gone on, the snow has continued to pile up. It has been an interesting winter with snow, rain, bone-chilling wind chills and some sunshine. This winter has been different from the last few winters: The snowmobilers have had an opportunity to zip across the pristine powdery white snow in the morning, leaving their tracks as a testament to their fun, various community “tip-up” festivals and ice fishing contests have seen better conditions than in the past few years, and the Columbia School Board, teachers and administrators have been diligently working on the beginning planning for our building improvements and remodeling.

Phase I includes the areas of the district that require the shortest length of time for our groups to work through the planning segment. Currently we are looking at outdoor components which were included in the bond issue. First and foremost, Phase I contains the complete replacement of all of the school roofs. The Phase I elements include the rerouting and paving of the new bus loops and drop-off areas at the Brooklyn campus of Columbia Middle and Elementary Schools, along with increasing the safety of the bus drop-off at Columbia Central High School. Also included in Phase I projects will be an increased focus on safety for the students and parents during drop-off and pick-up times. Phase I will also include upgrades to the track and field events areas, parking lots, middle school site work, and tennis courts. During Phase I we will also begin rewiring for our computer net works.

Phase II includes the balance of the projects: Completion of technology wiring and installation of wireless hubs, purchase of additional computer hardware, installation of new heating systems, remodeling of classrooms, remodeling of offices to include secure entry vestibules, addition of a secure entry at the elementary which will include a new office area, addition of locker room area at CCHS for seventh and eighth grade students.

Funds for the projects will come from the sale of our bonds. In a couple weeks the district will sell our bonds on the municipal market. With the assistance of two companies: Stiefel Nicholas and Raymond James. Community members with an interest in purchasing some of our tax free bonds will have an opportunity to do so by working with either of these two companies. Bonds will be sold in differing amounts for various lengths of time.

Just like the fresh snow sparkles in the sunshine, our remodeled schools will not only look better, but the technology will be greatly improved and the buildings will provide safer, warmer, and drier educational learning areas for our students and teachers. If you are interested in participating in a focus group to help plan various aspects of our remodeling projects, please call me at 5175926641 or email me at pam.campbell@myeagles.org.