Schools have been using various approaches to address the struggles that students are having with mathematics learning that have been compounded by the pandemic. There is an overwhelming consensus by both educators and researchers that we need to adapt acceleration rather than remediation as a tool to counteract the challenges that students currently face. Acceleration is about equity, which allows all our students to access an engaging, standards-based, academically rigorous, grade-level curriculum. In this book, educational consultant Dr. Nicki Newton shows K–8 teachers how to accelerate mathematics instruction so that all students learn and work on grade level, receive the right scaffolding when they need it, and feel a sense of achievement and success. Educators will in turn experience lower frustration and the joy of helping students thrive. Taking a deep dive into in-school acceleration, chapters address research, planning, assessment, pedagogy, teaching math vocabulary, lesson planning, goal setting and motivation, and action planning. Readers will learn how to use acceleration to get everybody motivated to learn and to create pathways of achievement. Book Features: Unpacks accelerating instruction as a way of saying "everybody is invited to this party." Looks at how acceleration provides a pathway to helping academically challenged students achieve and move in step with their grade-level standards.Offers detailed ways to plan, implement, and evaluate accelerated math lessons in grades K–8.Provides numerous tools, templates, and strategies so readers can use ideas right away.
Nicki Newton is an education consultant (drnickinewton.com) who works with schools and districts around the United States and Canada on K–8 math curriculum (including best practices, guided math, and math centers) as well as curriculum mapping. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and graduate school.
Contents (Tentative)ForewordAcknowledgmentIntroductionAcceleration Is Not Remediation Phrases We Need to Know1. Research on AccelerationWhat Is Acceleration? What Is the Shift?Why Do We Accelerate? What Are the Benefits of Accelerating?How Do We Accelerate?Summary2. Unpacking Prior Knowledge: Assessment as the Key to AccelerationThe Importance of Prior KnowledgeWhat Prior Knowledge Should Be Prioritized?Trickiness of Prior KnowledgeThe Role of Prior Knowledge in Accelerating MathExplicitly Tapping into Prior KnowledgeActivating Prior Knowledge PostersMetacognitionGraphic Organizers to Tap into Prior KnowledgeSchema/Prior Knowledge MapsSummary3. Acceleration and the Teaching of Math VocabularyDirectly Teaching the VocabularyPracticing the VocabularyWeaving the Vocabulary Throughout the LessonSummary4. Acceleration Lesson Plan FormatInstruction PlanAssessment PlanProgress MonitoringKeeping Track Throughout the LessonPlanning ChecklistsReflecting on the Acceleration ProcessSummary5. Acceleration and PedagogyEight Recommendations for Mathematical InterventionExplicit and Systematic InstructionMath Intervention LessonDistributed and Deliberate PracticeVisualizationManipulativesDiagrams and Graphic OrganizersVisuals for Word ProblemsNumber Paths and Number LinesGraphic OrganizersVisual DisplaysChoosing the Best Graphic OrganizersWord ProblemsFluencyMath Think AloudsEmergent BilingualsBuilding Mathematical ProficiencyMath Practices and ProcessesProfessional DevelopmentSummary6. Acceleration: A Primary Classroom ExampleJamalA Week of Scaffolding the Bridging 10 StrategyTracking a 1-Week Acceleration CycleA Week of AccelerationEvaluating the Acceleration CycleSupporting the Acceleration CycleSummary7. Acceleration: An Upper Elementary ExampleLucyTwo Weeks of Scaffolding Division: Big Division IdeasTracking a Two-Week Acceleration Cycle8. Acceleration: A Middle School ExampleMarioLearning Trajectory of DivisionTwo Weeks of Scaffolding Fraction Division: Big Fraction IdeasTracking a Two-Week Acceleration CyclePrior Knowledge: Trace of Dividing Fractions by FractionsLesson 1: Dividing a Whole Number by a FractionLesson 2: Dividing a Whole Number by Any FractionDividing a Unit Fraction by a Whole NumberDividing a Fraction by a FractionProgress MonitoringDaily Exit SlipsExample of Mapping an Acceleration CycleReflecting on the Acceleration CycleSupporting the Acceleration CycleSummary9. Connecting Progress Monitoring, Goal Setting, and MotivationProgress Monitoring for AccelerationGoal SettingStudent Goal SettingHigh Quality Feedback and MotivationMotivation and Growth MindsetSummaryEpilogue. Acceleration in Action: A Classroom ExampleChristine King ReferencesAbout the Author
"This book would be an asset to classroom teachers, math specialists, and math intervention teachers in elementary and middle schools."—Teachers College Record