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1

Evaluating & Selecting High-Quality Math Materials

Grades 6-8

LUNENBURG

TEACHING & LEARNING

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2

SELECTION TEAM

LUNENBURG

TEACHING & LEARNING

Role

Name

Director of Teaching & Learning

Annica Scott

Math Instructional Specialist

Amy Resnick

Grade 6 Teachers

Beth Arsenault

Kristine Bassett

Grade 7 Teachers

Krista Diamantopoulos

Andrea Gardner

Grade 8 Teachers

Nicole Rooney

Martha Sullivan

Special Services Teacher

Brenda Rolfe

Maura Lizek

Melanie Mobley

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Strengthening Curriculum in Massachusetts: Theory of Action

If schools and districts have the information and support they need to provide teachers with access to high-quality, standards-aligned, & culturally responsive curricular materials…

and if sustainable and collaborative professional learning structures help teachers use those materials to orchestrate student learning experiences skillfully…

then teacher and student experiences, and ultimately student outcomes, will improve.

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DESE’s Key Levers for MTSS Planning Document (Lever 1 is High-Quality Instructional Materials)

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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What materials can and cannot do

  • Provide equitable baseline
  • Support consistency
  • Increase coherence
  • Align to grade-level content standards
  • Enable teachers to focus on providing access--and not on creating materials

Can Do

Cannot Do

  • Teach standards
  • Change culture or mindsets
  • Make up for poor teacher practice
  • Make up for ineffective school/district structures or systems
  • Add time to the calendar or day
  • Substitute for necessary professional learning about materials
  • Guarantee improved student outcomes

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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TIMELINE

5

1

September-October 2023

Review district goals, parameters, and vision, and review program list

2

November 2023

Select 2-3 programs for pilot, determine process and units to be piloted

3

December 2023-March 2024

Complete the pilot process, evaluate feedback

3

April 2024

Select high-quality program for purchase

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6

SELECTION PROCESS

LUNENBURG

TEACHING & LEARNING

6-8 Math Materials Table

  • Began with list of curriculum materials which have been reviewed by EdReports and/or CURATE and meet expectations.
  • Explored samples and narrowed to three programs to pilot.
  • All grade levels piloted all three programs (HMH Into Math, Ed Gems, and Open Up Resources).
  • Met with publishers from all three programs to further investigate.
  • Unanimously selected Ed Gems.
  • Will visit another Massachusetts school currently using Ed Gems.

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ED GEMS

LUNENBURG

TEACHING & LEARNING

EdReports Review

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Edgems.com

Curriculum Preview

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