FAQ

General Questions

Q. __**How can I help my child with thier homework? This math seems so different to me.**__

A. There are many answers to this question. The best way that you can help your child with their homework is to allow them to share their thinking with you. You do not have to know the answer, just support their reasoning with questions like: //What have you tried so far? Why did it work or not work? How does it relate to what you did in class? What were the strategies that you have been learning? Could you use a table, graph, picture, or other method to try something different?// They should also be able to use their text and notebook to explain what it is they have been doing. It is important for them to reason through the problem they may be having. It is common for parents to return to our past learning and show the student a method for solving the problem. While this may be a quick fix, these strategies can result in creating gaps in understanding. If the child continues to struggle, please contact the teacher. You might even want to write a note directly on the homework. The student work will allow the teacher to identify their problem and find appropriate interventions. Another strategy is to reinforce the activities in the book while you are involved in everyday activities. Cooking, shopping, traveling, and looking at information in the newspaper are all great methods to get the kids to apply their skills to a wide variety of mathematics. For additional practice, games, activities, and videos, please find the unit title under the appropriate grade level and click on the links.

Q. **__I didn't learn math this way. Why is my child?__**

A. There has been a lot of research regarding the development of mathematical thinking in children. The content of the math courses has not changed, but the methods of developing the ideas is based on developing the understanding behind many of the procedures we learned by memorization. Once a child understands a concept, the procedures are much easier to master, and more importantly, apply at the appropriate time.

Q: **__Where can I find problems and activities to help my children with the DSTP?__**

A: Our curriculum is aligned with the state and national mathematics standards and therefore is aligned with our state testing program. For additional resources, choose a link below to access released items from around the country and state.

of student work || [|1999 Multiple grades] [DE] ||
 * Grade 6 || Grade 7 || Grade 8 || Miscellaneous ||
 * [|Item sampler] [DE] || [|Item sampler] [DE] || [|Item sampler] [DE] || [|2002 sampler] (multiple grades) ||
 * ||  || [|Massachutsettes] test || [|2008 Grade 4 and 5] ||
 * ||  || [|2004 sampler] with examples

For a complete list of our state Mathematics standards, [|click here.] Unpacking the standards! [|Additional information]
 * __Standards__**