Province introduces new math curriculum for elementary students

The Ontario government released the province’s new elementary math curriculum on Tuesday, June 23, with the intention of better preparing students for work in a rapidly changing world, strengthen math competence and improve grades.

Meanwhile, the elementary teachers union is not happy with the move.

Provincial officials say the curriculum was developed over two years in consultation with parents, math educators, academics and math education experts, and is designed to reverse a decade of declining math scores.

It will be available to students across the province beginning in September 2020.

“I made a promise to parents that we would fix the broken education system we inherited, get back to basics, and teach our children the math fundamentals they need for lifelong success,” stated Premier Doug Ford, in a media release.

“Today, our government is delivering on that promise with the first-ever math curriculum in Canada for Grades 1-8 that includes the teaching of coding and financial literacy, both critical skills that will help our students prepare for and succeed in the modern world and in the modern workforce.”

Provincial officials say the new math curriculum for Grades 1-8 will:

– Build understanding of the value and use of money through mandatory financial literacy concepts.

– For the first time, teach coding or computer programming skills starting in Grade 1 to improve problem solving and fluency with technology, to prepare students for jobs of the future.

– Use relevant, current, and practical examples so students can connect math to everyday life.

– Put a focus on fundamental math concepts and skills, such as learning and recalling number facts.

“For over a decade, too many students were lacking everyday math, financial literacy, and numeracy skills,” stated Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

“The new curriculum will help students solve everyday math problems, enshrine financial literacy in the early grades, and better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow by ensuring every student learns how to code.”

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), who represents 83,000 elementary public school teachers, occasional teachers and education professionals across the province, says the Ontario government is rushing the new math curriculum into public schools this September despite the learning gaps experienced by students resulting from this year’s school closures and emergency distance learning.

“ETFO is not opposed to improvements to the current math curriculum that better prepare students for their futures, however implementation is going to take time if we’re to do it right,” stated Sam Hammond, ETFO president, in a media release.

“Educators, students and parents have all grappled with the stressful learning conditions forced on us by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Hammond added: “This spring, the disparity in accessing learning resources has deepened inequities and had an impact on student learning outcomes that will carry over to the coming school year. Taking care of students and narrowing those gaps must be the priority of educators, which is why the government’s cancellation of EQAO standardized testing this coming year in elementary schools is important. However, more flexibility, time and resources will be needed to effectively implement the new curriculum. ”

Hammond said rolling out a new curriculum takes time.

“Given the significant changes to the math curriculum, and the fact that Ontario is still in the midst of a pandemic, successful implementation will require more than the two-month timeline that the Ministry has set,” he said.

EFTO officials say a submission this spring from the Ontario Teachers’ Federation, which represents education affiliates, said that implementation of the new math curriculum “is a marathon, not a sprint; it is a process, not an event.”

The document said that a more effective approach would be to adopt a two-year implementation plan that would allow for more consultation, professional learning for teachers and development of resources for students, EFTO officials added.

“Our educators will need to use their professional judgement on how to best introduce and support learning related to the new math curriculum for their students,” Hammond said in a press release.

“We need time to get the professional learning and supports from the government in place to ensure that we can deliver this curriculum successfully.”

EFTO officials say education affiliates were given minimal opportunities by the Ministry to provide feedback on the curriculum and its implementation.

Provincial officials say the Ministry of Education is also changing how it makes curriculum available to better reflect how Ontarians consume information.

The new math curriculum will be the first uploaded to the new Curriculum and Resources website, a digital space where anyone can access curriculum and learning resources, Provincial officials say.

“Our research team provided an extensive background research report giving the Ministry of Education the most up-to-date research and analysis of other curricula,” stated Dr. Christine Suurtamm, Vice Dean Research, and Professor of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa, in a press release.

“Ontario’s new mathematics curriculum builds on what we know about student learning and how students develop an understanding of mathematics. It supports all students to be math learners with opportunities to learn foundational mathematics and engage in current topics. The goal is to support how students use math in the world today, and how they will use math to make informed decisions in the world ahead of them.”

Provincial officials say the last update to Ontario’s elementary math curriculum was in 2005.

The new elementary math curriculum is part of the government’s four-year math strategy to ensure that students can build the confidence and skills they need to excel in math.

The elementary report card will be updated to align with the new curriculum and provide an overall mark in math, along with comments on the different strands of the curriculum to give parents a better overall assessment of how their child is doing, Provincial officials say.

Grade 3 and 6 students will not participate in Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments during the 2020-21 school year, as the ministry works to align the assessments with the new curriculum.

Students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 will continue to take the mathematics assessment and Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), respectively, Provincial officials added.

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