Niños Math News

             New State Math Curriculum

 

 There is a buzz in the air centered on the future of mathematical education in the state of Arizona.  As we speak, members of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), curriculum specialists, and classroom teachers, are putting the final touches on a revised state math curriculum.  At the end of February, the state will release draft copies of the revised curriculum for teachers and parents to review.  They will be able to give feedback and make recommendations for further changes, if needed.  At about that same time, the National Math Panel (created by President Bush as part of NCLB) will reveal their recommendations concerning a few national issues that are on the table in the area of mathematics.  With these recommendations, and recommendations from teachers and parents, the ADE may fine tune the new curriculum.  At that point, it may be adopted over the summer, which would make the 2008-2009 school year a transitional year in math, and the 2009-2010 school year the time when the new curriculum would be implemented. 

It is hard to say what the new curriculum will look like.  However, I do know there will be a stronger focus on discrete mathematics, and I would venture to guess a stronger emphasis on inquiry based teaching models. 

 

Be on the lookout for more information regarding math curriculum in the coming months!

 

    Niños Math Lab

  Jason Christ ∞ Patti Benster ∞ Karen Patton

jchrist@kyrene.org    ∞   www.kyrene.org/staff/jchrist    ∞  480.783.3134

 FROM THE ART DEPT.

 

Ms. Hall’s Art Classes: We have just finished Batik, using glue in place of the traditional wax-resist method (a whole lot safer!!) To set the colors into the fabric better, try putting them in a sink of really cold water with about 3 tbs of salt. We are just starting our Collage boxes and this will take us a few weeks. We will be learning about American artist Joseph Cornell and how he liked to emphasize architecture in his boxes. Each student will be bringing home their own collage ‘treasure box’ thanks to the Tender Box and its owner Jeff, who donated ALL the boxes for this project! Thank you!!! Once we finish collage, we will start down the path that will lead us into the world of drawing!! More architecture will be coming in the form of perspective drawings! As always, please come by the Art room and see what we are up to!! Our hallway proudly displays all the students’ hard work and creativity!!!!

 

Mrs. Strong’s first grade art classes will begin working with texture in their projects this month. The second grade classes will be working with symmetry and creating paintings inspired by Navajo blankets. The third graders will be looking at work created by Faith Ringgold and creating community event drawings. The fifth graders will look at work by American artist Jacob Lawrence and creating a print inspired by his work.