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NCTM Calls for Action on Common Core Implementation
posted by: Ruthie | April 16, 2014, 08:05 PM   


The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
held their annual conference this past week.  At the conference, there were speakers, panels, and sessions on all sorts of topics relating to mathematics. There was also the release of a new document, Principals to Actions.


The report builds on past publications that outlined the principals that math teachers should follow, unlike previous documents however, this new document focuses exclusively on the implementation of the Mathematics Common Core State Standards (CCSS).


Principals to Actions starts by reiterating the statement of support for CCSS that the association made last year.  It recounts the gains in mathematics over the past 20 years, while at the same time pointing out that there is still much to do in order to provide a high-quality and equitable mathematics education.  In this area of work yet to be completed, it sees the implementation of CCSS as a great opportunity for teachers and administrators to bring their practice to the next level.

NCTM lists the weaknesses of current mathematics teaching, including the focus on learning procedures without understanding them, low expectations for students, not enough high quality instructional materials, too much weight on testing, and the continued isolation of the teaching profession.  Then they list their goals for how they would like to see mathematics instruction grow.  These goals include improvements in teaching, technology, curriculum, equity, assessment practices and most importantly (at least in my opinion) the professionalism of teachers.

Finally, the document lists off specific actions that teachers and administrators can take in order to meet these goals.  Not surprisingly, the document argues that these actions work alongside and compromise a correct implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

The publication, along with an executive summary of its contents, can be
found on the NCTM website.

 

 

 

 

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