< WHAT DOES KCM DO? - Kentucky Center for Mathematics

WHAT DOES KCM DO?

Student Success:

KCM focuses on developing essential skills for student success.

  • Non-Content Specific Skills

    • Students are able to: make sense of problems and persist in solving them, reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct, communicate and critique viable arguments, model with mathematics, strategically use tools and technology, attend to precision, locate and apply structure and work collaboratively with others.

  • Content Specific Skills

    • Students have an understanding of Foundational Numeracy with properties and operations of number, finding connections in everyday life and financial mathematics.
    • Algebra is seen as the “glue” that holds foundational numeracy together. Students understand Algebra through mastering foundational numeracy in generalizing the operations and properties of numbers. Development of Algebra 2 skills is the best early predictor of college success. Pre-calculus and beyond is available to students who will benefit from it. Math and statistics can be found embedded into courses in other content areas.

  • Attitudes & Beliefs

    • KCM recognizes the importance of a growth mindset, productive mathematical beliefs, efficacy, and grit in accomplishing mathematical goals.

Student Experience:

KCM facilitates experiences to develop the skills for success.

  • Classroom Instruction

    • A culture of sense making and student engagement in math education.

  • Vertical Coherence

    • Early grade teachers develop skills for later grades, while later grade teachers reinforce and build upon skills developed in earlier grades.

  • Lateral Coherence

    • Students find help outside of the classroom helpful to in-class learning, and transdisciplinary connections are made to ensure concepts are not being relearned.

  • Out of Class Connections

    • Students are able to make connections with mathematics in their daily life, career choice, and society.

KCM Facilitation:

The way KCM facilitates student experiences

  • Teacher Professional Learning

    • Educating teachers on effective teaching practices.
    • A focus on grade-level content in Pre-K through Postsecondary.
    • Promotion of family involvement and leadership skills for teachers.

  • Online Resources

    • KCM materials that are based on the needs of Kentucky, include classroom and family activities and assessment tools.
    • Available links to KCM vetted materials from other sources.

  • On-site Support for Schools

    • Create and empower math leadership teams where core members attend KCM PD, gaining resources.
    • Regional Coordinators offer ongoing school visits and support.
    • Together the school and KCM work to develop and realize school-wide goals.

  • Statewide Leadership Coordination

    • Coordination with KDE, CPE, postsecondary institutions, education centers, regional education co-ops and industry.