Underlying Issues and Shifts in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics
The documents in this group, provided by Jason Zimba, present an overview of key shifts in the approach of the CCSS for mathematics and outline substitutive issues related to their implementation.
**Daro, P., McCallum, W., & Zimba, J. (n.d.) Implementing the Common Core State Standards for mathematics. This short piece by authors of the mathematics standards outlines several resources to support CCSS implementation and argues for concentrating early implementation on a specified menu of mathematics learning progressions.
**Zimba, J. (2011, May). Priorities for the Common Core State Standards’ for mathematical content (discussion draft). This piece extends the argument for focus by identifying specific focus standards at each grade level.
Lasting achievements in K–8 This short piece emphasizes the critical role of middle school mathematics standards for college- and career-readiness.New twists on an old standard. This piece provides a brief discussion of some shifts in approach that are signaled in certain standards.
Required fluencies in the common core state standards for mathematics. This one-page outline presents the grades at which students should be expected to demonstrate fluency (speed and accuracy) with specified knowledge and skills in the standards.
Tasks to Represent CCSS in Mathematics
The materials in this group, provided by Jason Zimba, discuss or present mathematical tasks, intended to connect the CCSS for mathematics to classroom instruction. The first document outlines a range of different types of mathematics tasks—short, scaffolded, and unscaffolded—that will be required to validly assess the standards. The remaining documents present a balanced collection of tasks that exemplify specific core mathematics concepts. *We suggest you read the discussion of task types and then look though the specific examples as time permits.*
**Tasks as a way to connect content and practice.
Understand place value.
Equations.
Expressions.
Quantity.
Number.
Additional selected short, scaffolded, and unscaffolded assessment tasks.
Sample Extended Lesson
This document, provided by Jason Zimba, outlines a 15-day curriculum module for adding and subtracting rational numbers associated with CCSS in mathematics for grade 7. It includes specifications surrounding expected prior knowledge, use of concrete models, sequence of ideas and activities, and further development for this specific content area.
Straw man outline for an intense engagement.
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics, Grades 2-7
This excerpt of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) covers the mathematical concepts contained in grades 2–7 standards, specifically detailing the critical areas that instructional time should focus on and providing a general overview of the mathematical practices and operations students are expected to understand at the end of each grade level.
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2010, June 2). Common Core State Standards for mathematics. Washington, DC: Author. (Excerpt from pages 17-51 of complete document.). Available at http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_Math%20Standards.pdf
**This document is considered a priority reading.