D101 is committed to an ongoing, intentional and cyclical review of core curriculum and supporting resources. As previously shared, last year, D101 math committee members and their building teaching partners vetted and/or piloted a variety of math resources with the intention of selecting a new core resource, informed by a district needs assessment conducted the previous spring, that would better support their ability to differentiate instruction for students. 

Our goal was not to make sweeping changes to either our consistently strong district math curriculum or to student learning outcomes. Rather, it was to find a resource that would support improved access to differentiated materials, meaningful practice, and math discourse through a focus on conceptual understanding. At the conclusion of our review, the D101 math committee unanimously recommended that we move forward with district implementation of K-5 i-Ready resources. Please click here if you would like to read more about the 2022-23 review process that allowed us to choose the best resource for D101.

What does this mean for my child(ren)? It means that our teachers are truly excited for this change and know you will also be pleased with the plethora of differentiated and personalized resources that i-Ready will afford our students both in and outside of the classroom. Our staff are also ready. They have attended multiple training sessions preparing for this change and will continue to participate in ongoing training throughout the school year. This year, specifically, students will engage in elevated math discourse (aka: meaningful math conversations) that emphasizes conceptual understanding. They will also experience purposeful math practice through feedback, real world problems, hands-on activities, and rigorous tasks. And finally, they will experience differentiated and personalized instruction based on evidence of their own present thinking and learning.

What else can parents expect? In addition to the classroom specific information previously shared by your child(ren)’s teacher(s) at Thursday’s curriculum night, family letters that overview the concepts and provide ways to support students at home will be provided for each unit of study. Additionally, all of our students will experience personalized learning through My Path, a differentiated online program where students learn and practice concepts at their own level and can access at home and at school. 

As always, if you have questions at any point, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher, principal, or me. We value your input and feedback as we all work to build Student Ownership of learning together. Our forever goal remains a commitment to consistent improvement, and we thank you for your ongoing partnership and support.