PTAA Texas School District
STEAM-Focused Charter School District
Developing mathematically fluent leaders and problem solvers of tomorrow.
Our vision for mathematics instruction at PTAA is to encourage critical thinking by balancing conceptual and procedural understanding in a safe, equitable, and supportive learning environment. Purposeful collaboration of families, scholars, and staff aims to develop mathematically fluent leaders and problem solvers of tomorrow.
At PTAA we share common beliefs about mathematics. We believe…
1. A conceptual understanding of mathematics begins in the primary years through play and the use of manipulatives. This solid foundation supports procedural skills and works hand-in-hand to foster optimal mathematical thinking, through multiple representations and strategies in the secondary years. A balance of conceptual and procedural knowledge lends itself to the application of mathematics in the real world through critical thinking and problem-solving.
2. In developing the depth of mathematical knowledge of key concepts through rigorous instruction. We will build on previous knowledge to connect to the continuous story of mathematics through the grade levels. Through collaboration, coherence of vocabulary, use of various technologies, and hands-on learning, our scholars will develop into leaders and problem solvers.
3. Our scholars will have the opportunity to celebrate their mathematical learning through productive struggle. Productive struggle is the process of effortful learning that develops grit and creative problem-solving skills. Through this process, our scholars will learn by using multiple representations and strategies, including technology, to build deep conceptual knowledge of mathematical topics.
At PTAA we believe in the intentionality of establishing mathematical communities that support our scholars to not only become doers and thinkers of mathematics but to apply these critical skills to everyday life. We want our scholars confidently equipped to thrive in whatever future endeavor they choose to pursue. As a team of teachers, students, leaders, and parents/caregivers, we will provide a supportive environment that encourages and reinforces learning in and outside of school. We believe that through prioritizing collaboration and strong communication, we can create dynamic learning experiences that will motivate students to learn and grow as mathematicians.
Zearn Math for Texas is a research-backed math curriculum designed specifically for Texas students.
Throughout their math learning, students will:
Family letter: English |
Spanish
Video: English |
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Guide: English |
Spanish
With Zearn Math for Texas, students have more ways to engage with grade-level math, always with the personalized support they need. With their teacher and classmates, students will connect math problems to real life scenarios and use pictures and models to understand math more clearly.
Carnegie Learning’s instructional approach is a culmination of the collective knowledge of researchers, instructional designers, cognitive learning scientists, and master practitioners.
The Carnegie Learning Way
Carnegie Learning’s instructional approach is based on how people learn and real-world understandings. It is based on three key components:
Online Resources for Families and Caregivers: https://www.carnegielearning.com/texas-help/students-caregivers/
Carnegie Blend of Learning
The Texas Math Solution delivers instructional resources that make learning math attainable for all students. Learning Together and Learning Individually resources work in parallel to engage students with various learning experiences they need to understand the mathematics at each grade level.
For Learning Together, the student textbook is a consumable resource that empowers students to become creators of their mathematical knowledge. This resource is designed to support teachers in facilitating active learning so that students feel confident in sharing ideas, listening to each other, and learning together. Over the course of a year, based on the recommended pacing, teachers will spend approximately 60% of their instructional time teaching whole-class activities as students learn together.
For Learning Individually, the Skills Practice provides students the opportunity to engage with problems that target each lesson’s skills, concepts, and applications. This resource is designed to target discrete skills for development and mastery, therefore, scaffolding and extension opportunities are provided in the problem sets.
An additional Learning Individually resource is MATHia®, an intelligent software that provides just-in-time support and tracks student progress against fine-grained skills to deliver the right content they need to become proficient with mathematics. Over the course of the year, based on the recommended pacing, teachers will spend approximately 40% of their instructional time monitoring students as they work and learn individually.
I am a record of student thinking, reasoning, and problem solving. My lessons allow students to build new knowledge based upon prior knowledge and experiences, apply math to real-world situations, and learn together in a collaborative classroom. My purpose is to create mathematical thinkers who are active learners that participate in class.
I am targeted practice of each lesson’s skills, mathematical concepts, and applications for each topic in the student Textbook.
My purpose is to provide additional problem sets for teachers to assign as needed for additional practice or remediation.
I am designed to empower students to learn individually at their own pace with sophisticated AI technology that personalizes their learning experiences, while giving teachers real-time insights to monitor student progress.
My purpose is to coach students alongside teachers as students learn, practice, do, and look forward.
This program has been carefully designed to provide students with a challenging and rigorous curriculum aligned with students’ demonstrated ability in mathematics, ensuring they are well prepared for future academic success.
Research indicates that math, more than reading, is a strong predictor of future academic achievements. Specifically, participating in advanced math courses during middle and high school has numerous benefits for your student:
| 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math 6 Honors (6/7) | Math 7 Honors (7/8) | Algebra 1 | Geometry Honors | Algebra II Honors | Pre-Calculus or Dual Credit (determined by CTE Pathway) | Dual Credit (determined by CTE Pathway) or AP Calculus |
By embarking on this path, students can begin high school coursework in 8th grade, exploring advanced math courses like Dual Credit and Advanced Placement (AP) in high school. This early exposure significantly increases the likelihood of your student earning a postsecondary credential or degree, six times over.
Our goal is to support and encourage all students to follow a math pathway that aligns with their current needs and future goals. We believe that this program will empower our students to excel in their mathematical pursuits and contribute to their overall academic success.
For more information, please feel free to reach out to your school counselor. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure a bright and successful academic journey for your student.
High-quality instruction for all learners
An effective math program starts with expertly crafted instruction for all students. IXL's personalized learning platform helps students achieve mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
Comprehensive curriculum: IXL offers 17,000+ skills across all grade levels and generates skill suggestions at the right difficulty level for each student.
Academic screening: IXL's Real-Time Diagnostic analyzes students' grade-level proficiency in math so that you can determine which students may require additional intervention.
Targeted analytics for small-group instruction
IXL's personalized guidance and insights allow teachers to identify and target student knowledge gaps at the small-group level, and get students back on track.
Small-group instruction: IXL makes it easy for teachers to break students into leveled groups based on students' abilities and recommends the most important skills for each group to work on.
Target trouble spots: IXL identifies groups of students struggling with the same concepts and prioritizes the biggest problem areas.
Personalized plans for individualized learning
Use IXL's personalized teaching materials to provide data-driven instruction at the individual learner level.
Meet students where they are: IXL offers personalized learning plans for each student. Students can choose from the array of problems tuned to their skill level or teachers can recommend problems to individual students to target trouble spots.
In-depth student data: Question logs allow teachers to drill into each student's practice patterns and performance to uncover exactly why they are struggling.