When many of us were growing up, we were taught to memorize formulas and facts in our math classes.  Over the past two  decades we have seen that this approach does not equip our future generation of leaders to truly understand numbers, problem solve with creativity, and think critically.  Students need to have math fact fluency, but we also seek to equip students with strong number sense and problem solving capacities.  In order to do this, instruction must look different than it did years ago.  We ask our students to learn multiple ways to solve problems, so that they can work efficiently and also be flexible in their approach when they meet challenges.  

Many years ago Lead Academy’s Instructional Leadership Team spent a year researching the best way to teach math. We visited many schools, undertook training from Stanford University, and spent many hours discussing the best approach to mathematics instruction.  In doing so, we committed to the following mindsets in our classrooms:

• A growth mindset culture should be the foundation of every classroom.  This needs to be explicitly taught and communicated to students. 

• There are not math people and non-math people.  Math is used everywhere and should be relatable and approachable by all.

• Creative and flexible approaches should be embraced. 

• Grappling is an essential component of learning.

• Math understanding happens within the context of collaboration. Discussion and critique are critical.

• Math requires curiosity, perseverance, risk-taking, precision, and craftsmanship.

• Vocabulary, algorithms, formulas and number facts are purely foundational, but not the focus of the class.

• Strategies and sense making should be valued over speed.

• Students should practice routinely their math facts to grow their personal fluency, but not through timed competition.

• Mistakes are a starting point for learning.

At Lead Academy we teach the SC state standards for mathematics.  We have chosen to use Envision Math as our curriculum in the primary grades.  This curriculum has scored near perfect scores by EdReports, an independent reviewer of curricula.  In 3rd-8th grades, our students use Zearn Math as their curriculum, which also received the top ratings on EdReports.  Additionally, our students have access to Reflex and Frax to develop their fact fluency.