Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

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Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM) are guidelines produced by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in 2000, setting forth recommendations for mathematics educators. [1] [2] They form a national vision for preschool through twelfth grade mathematics education in the US and Canada. It is the primary model for standards-based mathematics.

Contents

The NCTM employed a consensus process that involved classroom teachers, mathematicians, and educational researchers. A total of 48 individuals are listed in the document as having contributed, led by Joan Ferrini-Mundy and including Barbara Reys, Alan H. Schoenfeld and Douglas Clements. The resulting document sets forth a set of six principles (Equity, Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Technology) that describe NCTM's recommended framework for mathematics programs, and ten general strands or standards that cut across the school mathematics curriculum. These strands are divided into mathematics content (Number and Operations, Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis and Probability) and processes (Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Communication, Connections, and Representation). Specific expectations for student learning are described for ranges of grades (preschool to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12).

Origins

The Principles and Standards for School Mathematics was developed by the NCTM. The NCTM's stated intent was to improve mathematics education. The contents were based on surveys of existing curriculum materials, curricula and policies from many countries, educational research publications, and government agencies such as the U.S. National Science Foundation. [3] The original draft was widely reviewed at the end of 1998 and revised in response to hundreds of suggestions from teachers.

The PSSM is intended to be "a single resource that can be used to improve mathematics curricula, teaching, and assessment." [3] The latest update was published in 2000. The PSSM is available as a book, and in hypertext format on the NCTM web site.

The PSSM replaces three prior publications by NCTM: [3]

Six principles

Standards

Ten general strands or standards of mathematics content and processes were defined that cut across the school mathematics curriculum. Specific expectations for student learning, derived from the philosophy of outcome-based education, are described for ranges of grades (preschool to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12). These standards were made an integral part of nearly all outcome-based education and later standards-based education reform programs that were widely adopted across the United States.[ citation needed ]

Content standards

Process standards

Curriculum Focal Points

In 2006, NCTM issued a document called "Curriculum Focal Points" that presented the most critical mathematical topics for each grade in elementary and middle schools. American mathematics instruction tends to be diffuse and is criticized for including too many topics each year. In part, this publication is intended to assist teachers in identifying the most critical content for targeted attention. More such publications are planned.

NCTM stated that "Focal Points" was a step in the implementation of the Standards, not a reversal of its position on teaching students to learn foundational topics with conceptual understanding. [15] Contrary to the expectation of many textbook publishers and educational progressives, the 2006 Curriculum Focal Points strongly emphasized the importance of basic arithmetic skills in lower and middle grades. Because of this, the "Curriculum Focal Points" was perceived by the media [16] [17] as an admission that the PSSM had originally recommended, or at least had been interpreted as recommending, reduced instruction in basic arithmetic facts.

The 2006 Curriculum Focal Points identifies three critical areas at each grade level for pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. [15] Samples of the specific focal points for three grades are below. (Note that the Simple Examples below are not quotes from the Focal Points, but are based on the descriptions of activities found in the Focal Points.)

Focal pointsRelated content standardSimple example
Pre-Kindergarten Focal Points [18] (student age: 4 or 5 years old)
Developing an understanding of whole numbersNumber and OperationsHow many blue pencils are on the table?
Identifying shapes and describing spatial relationshipsGeometryCan you find something that is round?
Identifying measurable attributes and comparing objects by using these attributesMeasurementWhich one is longer?
Fourth Grade Focal Points [19] (student age: 9 or 10 years old)
Developing quick recall of multiplication facts and related division facts and fluency with whole number multiplicationNumber and Operations, AlgebraAn auditorium has 26 rows of 89 seats. How many seats are there?
Developing an understanding of decimals, including the connections between fractions and decimalsNumber and OperationsDraw a picture of 0.2. What fraction is this?
Developing an understanding of area and determining the areas of two-dimensional shapesMeasurementHow could we find the area of this L-shaped room?
Eighth Grade Focal Points [20] (student age: 13 or 14 years old)
Analyzing and representing linear functions and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations AlgebraThe equation y = 4x + 4 shows the cost y of washing x windows. How much more will it cost each time I add 2 more windows to the job?
Analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures by using distance and angleGeometry, MeasurementUse the Pythagorean theorem to find the distance between the two points on the opposite corners of this rectangle.
Analyzing and summarizing data sets Data Analysis, Number and Operations, AlgebraWhat is the median price in this list? Does the median change if I lower the most expensive price?

The Focal Points define not only the recommended curriculum emphases, but also the ways in which students should learn them, as in the PSSM. An example of a complete description of one focal point is the following for fourth grade:

Number and Operations and Algebra: Developing quick recall of multiplication facts and related division facts and fluency with whole number multiplication
Students use understandings of multiplication to develop quick recall of the basic multiplication facts and related division facts. They apply their understanding of models for multiplication (i.e., equal-sized groups, arrays, area models, equal intervals on the number line), place value, and properties of operations (in particular, the distributive property) as they develop, discuss, and use efficient, accurate, and generalizable methods to multiply multidigit whole numbers. They select appropriate methods and apply them accurately to estimate products or calculate them mentally, depending on the context and numbers involved. They develop fluency with efficient procedures, including the standard algorithm, for multiplying whole numbers, understand why the procedures work (on the basis of place value and properties of operations), and use them to solve problems.

Controversy

Because most education agencies in the United States have adopted the NCTM recommendations to varying degrees, many textbook publishers promote their products as being compliant with the publishers' interpretations of the PSSM. [21] [22] [23] [24] However, the NCTM does not endorse, approve, or recommend any textbooks or other products and has never agreed that any textbook accurately represents their goals. [25]

See also

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References

  1. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. "Statement of Beliefs". Archived from the original on 2007-05-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "Principles and Standards - Standards 2000 Project" . Retrieved 2008-03-08.
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  5. 1 2 "The Curriculum Principle" . Retrieved 2008-03-08.
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  7. "The Teaching Principle" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  8. 1 2 "The Learning Principle" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  9. 1 2 "Standards for School Mathematics: Number and Operations" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  10. 1 2 "Standards for School Mathematics: Algebra" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  11. 1 2 3 "Standards for School Mathematics: Geometry" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  12. "Standards for School Mathematics: Measurement" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  13. "Standards for School Mathematics: Data Analysis and Probability" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  14. "Feldman_Norton" . Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  15. 1 2 "How Do the Curriculum Focal Points Relate to Principles and Standards for School Mathematics?" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  16. Report Urges Changes in the Teaching of Math in U.S. Schools by TAMAR LEWIN New York Times September 13, 2006
  17. Chicago Sun Times "Fuzzy teaching ideas never added up" September 13, 2006
  18. "Prekindergarten" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  19. "Grade 4" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  20. "Grade 8" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  21. From the advertising materials: "Correlated to the NCTM Standards, they encourage students to understand the relationship..." "Glencoe.com eCatalog" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  22. From the advertising materials: "To address the call for “Algebra for All” from NCTM, this classroom-tested, standards-based program..." "Thinking Algebraically" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  23. From the advertising materials: "Beyond Arithmetic provides a philosophical framework that links the NCTM goals with what actually happens in classrooms..." "Beyond Arithmetic" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  24. From a brief description of the Saxon Math textbooks: "Correlated to the NCTM curriculum focal points." "saxonpublishers Product Detail" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  25. "Questions & Answers" . Retrieved 2008-03-24.