Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:

Illustrating the 3 Shifts

K-1 Common Core Lead TeachersSpring 2012

The Three Shifts in Mathematics

• Focus strongly where the standards focus

• Coherence: Think across grades and link to major topics within grades

• Rigor: Require conceptual understanding, fluency, and application

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Focus

• The current U.S. curriculum is ‘a mile wide and an inch deep.’

• Focus is necessary in order to achieve the rigor set forth in the standards

• Remember Hong Kong example: more in-depth mastery of a smaller set of things pays off

Illustrating ActivityShift #1:

Focus

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The overview is first page

of each grade level in the

standards

This page includes:

•Domains

•Clusters

•Mathematical Practices

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• Smarter Balanced Content Specifications, Appendix A• PARCC Model Content Framework

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The overview is first page

of each grade level in the

standards

This page includes:

•Domains

•Clusters

•Mathematical Practices

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• Smarter Balanced Content Specifications, Appendix A• PARCC Model Content Framework

Focus – Major Work of the Grade

• Read the introductory paragraphs and the content emphases by cluster

• Review the provided textbook Table of Contents. Highlight the chapters that are included in the major work of the grade.

• In each of the next 3 years, incremental changes will be made to the pacing guides to allow more time for mastery of the major work of the grade

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Coherence• Carefully connect the learning within and across

grades so that students can build new understanding onto foundations built in previous years.

• Begin to count on solid conceptual understanding of core content and build on it. Each standard is not a new event, but an extension of previous learning.

Illustrating ActivityShift #2:

Coherence

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Coherence – Examine a progression

• The standards are carefully sequenced• Mastery of the major work of the grade is

required for success in the next grade• Sequence the standards into grade levels• Discuss why it is essential that the major work

of each grade is taught to mastery

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Rigor

• Rigor requires a balance of conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application.

• Equal time, activities and resources must be allocated to all 3 for mastery of mathematics.

Illustrating ActivityShift #3:

Rigor

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Rigor – Match each standard to

• Solid conceptual understanding• Procedural skill and fluency• Application of skills in problem solving

situations

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And finally…Can you name and describe the 3 shifts?

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