K-12 Mathematics

Performance Task Planning and Assessing

The Performance Task Planning and Assessing Guide is a tool that is to be used when planning and implementing a Performance Task (remember links for Performance Tasks can be found for every Priority Standard in the Content Pacing Guides).  The Planning guide below is best used as a grade band collaborative team to focus:

Learning Objectives
Mathematical Practice Alignment
Academic Vocabulary
Questioning
Anticipated Student Solutions
Grading Rubric
Rubric Alignment

Which One Doesn't Belong (Grades K-12+): a bank of visual, open-ended sets where you justify "which one doesn't belong."  Can you or your students come up with a justification for each selection presented? 

NCTM Problems of the Week by NCTM (Grades K-12+): a bank of high quality mathematical problems curated by the National Council for the Teachers of Mathematics.

Maths Venn fun and engaging puzzle-like math Venn Diagrams!

Task Search Engine by Robert Kaplinsky (Grades K-12):  A search engine linked to over 25 rich mathematical task resources that allows you to enter a keyword and returns a curated list of high-quality tasks.  

YouCubed by Jo Boaler (Grades K-12): Low threshold, high ceiling tasks, naturally differentiating, highly engaging, and aligned with grade levels.  YouCubed tasks aren't specifically aligned with a math standard but allow students to access and experience rigorous mathematics. The only drawback is not enough content!

When Math Happens by Dan Meyer (Grades 3-12): 3-Act Tasks with engaging video clips and simple questions that are of the "What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you need to know?" style.  These tasks are all tied to grade-level content areas.  The only drawback is not enough content!

Robert Kaplinsky (Grades K - 12):  Tasks complete with teacher lesson plans that include engaging, current topics with rigorous mathematics.  These tasks are all tied to grade-level content areas.  The only drawback is not enough content.

Achieve the Core Coherence Map (Grades K-12):  The Coherence Map shows the connections between State Standards for Mathematics.  They help build student understanding by linking together concepts within and across grades. The map assists in identify gaps in a student's knowledge by tracing a standard back through its logical pre-requisites and it helps you visualize and understand how supporting standards relate to the major work of the grade. Embedded in the map are over 45 math tasks tied to standards. 

Would You Rather (Grades K-12):  A comprehensive series of mathematical tasks that ask students to pick an option based on the popular "Would you rather...." series.  Highly engaging and content that spans all K-12 grade bands.

Visual Patterns

SolveMe Puzzles

Utah Middle School Math Project (Grades 7-8): Inviting curriculum with enriching anchor tasks and activities.  Also included are pacing guides, teacher guides, and an in-depth explanation of the mathematics being taught.  All content is tied to math core standards and to the Mathematical Practices. 

Mathematics Vision Project (Grades 9-11):  Tasks to introduce and reinforce standards, tied to math core standards, teacher guides, spiraled assignments and honors content for each grade level.  

dy/dan by Dan Meyer (Grades 7-12):  3-Act Task resources with engaging video clips and teacher notes.  Dan's blog is highly informative and helps give educators ideas about how to effectively implement 3-Act Tasks.

DSD Math Task Folder (Grades 7-12):  Join our Dropbox folder that is a repository of the monthly math tasks that are emailed to every DSD Secondary Math Teacher.  (Join our email list here, all Secondary Math DSD Educators are automatically enrolled).
 

1. Mathematics Focus by Grade Level:   (K-8) A deep focus on the major work in each grade level so that students can build a strong mathematical foundation.  These core guides are visually appealing and allow you to see major topics (green square), supporting topics (blue square), and additional work (yellow circle) organized by grade level.  
    
   
    
2. University of AZ Progressions Documents: (K-12) A narrative, which includes visual solution strategies that students may have encountered in prior grades.  These documents are in-depth and contain a lot of detail about the progression of major topics in elementary and secondary math education.
    
   
    
3. USBE Core Guides:  (K-12) A high level explanation of Utah-specific mathematics standards, including links to standards that students should come to class knowing and links to Utah standards that have yet to be learned.  Additionally, these documents contain links for curriculum resources that have been vetted by the USBE Mathematics Department. 
    
   
    

For a printable/sharable version click here.

For a printer friendly file, click here.

For a printer friendly copy, click here.
For more information about the course, click here.

To register, click here.

Mathematics Acceleration Options

About ten percent of students are candidates for acceleration as they enter junior high, and Davis District strives to identify and support them where appropriate. 

The DESK Standards have been carefully structured to emphasize certain concepts during specific courses, therefore students may not ‘skip’ a math course as this would put them at a disadvantage in future courses.  Davis District supports a variety of paths for acceleration.  Please refer to the Secondary Math Course Progressions tab.

Accelerated students should take math every year while in high school.  Data shows that students who accelerate and then sit out a year of math in high school loose the advantage of acceleration.  The purpose of acceleration should be to enable students to take additional advanced math courses while in high school rather than complete the requirements early.  Data shows that there is a negative effect on mathematical knowledge when students miss a year of math classes before high school graduation.

Please contact the junior high school that your student will attend during the 2021-2022 school year for registration information.

In Davis School District, we strive to give students every opportunity to engage with mathematics like an actual mathematician would—wondering, asking questions, mathematical sense making, and calling on the math community to give and offer feedback to strengthen claims!  With this end in mind, we have been busy curating a summer math experience for K-12 math families who are interested in keeping their math skills sharp over the summer but who do not want to commit to a “for-credit”, full-year summer math course.  The program consists of nine deeply engaging and rigorous math tasks with the following rules:

1. Each task should take 4-5 days of 10-20 minutes each.  Set a timer (or watch a clock) and work on the task for no longer than 20 mins per day.
2. You may pick a task to work on--there is no order, choose something that looks interesting or something that makes you think!  There are enough tasks for 9 weeks of mathing!
3. I encourage you to work on the task with a sibling or a neighbor or a friend.  If you prefer to work alone that is fine too!
4. I encourage you to draw pictures, to use tools (like a calculator), and to use models (like base-10 blocks, algebra tiles, or dual-sided counters) to help you make sense of the task. 

This course is grade-level content agnostic and focuses instead on developing the Student and Teacher Mathematical Practices (which are found in every level of the Utah State Core Curriculum from K – 12).  If students are interested in participating, they can fill out this form.

Access to printer-friendly copies of the Summer Math Tasks:

Elementary (K-6) Math Summer Tasks

Secondary (7-12) Math Summer Tasks

For a printer friendly file, click here.