Based on the work of Jean Piaget, Moving with Math organizes instruction in three progressive stages: Concrete, Pictorial, and Abstract/Symbolic. In the Concrete stage, students work with manipulatives (e.g., base ten blocks) and other objects to model concepts (e.g., three blocks). In the Pictorial stage, students draw representational pictures (e.g., three circles), which creates a foundation for the transition to the Abstract, or Symbolic, stage where they learn to associate concepts with symbolic, or algebraic, representations (e.g., 3).
Instruction addresses visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles and emphasizes in the precise use of mathematics vocabulary. Students discover new concepts through hands-on activities that incorporate manipulatives (e.g., base ten blocks), models, and role play. Each lesson includes “Story Time,” a list of recommended children’s literature that supports the concepts taught (e.g., “The Three Little Pigs”). “Skill Builder” activities extend learning and may be used to support instruction at home.
About Math Teachers Press*
Since 1980, Math Teachers Press has continually refined its learning objectives to address the instructional needs of school districts nationwide. Moving to the Common Core State Standards and CCSS-aligned assessment represented a continuation of this process of refinement. Despite all of the changes across the landscape of math education, the mission of Math Teachers Press has remained unchanged: to help all students succeed in math––especially those who struggle most––while making the job of the teacher easier with handy organizational tools, user-friendly lesson plans, and web-based assessment and reporting to monitor student progress and provide accountability.
* The content in this section is provided by or adapted from Math Teachers Press.
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