Math Worksheets and Video Tutorials for High School and IB Math
Math Worksheets and Video Tutorials for High School and IB Math

New Ontario math curriculum for elementary students

by |Published -Updated

So, there is a new math curriculum for elementary school students here in Ontario.  What does it include:

More understanding of money; computer programming skills, with the idea of improving problem solving skills and greater technology capabilities;  practical examples connecting math to every day life; focus on math fundamentals which include learning and recalling number facts, [1] and memorizing the 12 times table.  [2]  Below are comments from an Ottawa, Ontario parent on the new Ontario math curriculum.

“OK, I have mixed feelings about some of this. It sounds like they are going back to some older ways of teaching basic arithmetic. I admit, I think some of that was good! I don’t know if that will help reverse the slide of math standardized tests or not, but the slide does seem possibly linked to some changes in the last curriculum update. The addition of financial education seems worthwhile, although not many grade 8s are thinking compound interest on an upcoming loan! And their real-world examples used in it – they include things like “how to send an e-transfer”, or “how to use a loyalty system” – which do not seem to be teaching math!  I’m also not really sure that adding even more like coding on top is helpful. I’m not sure what you can teach a grade one in that realm. And if they keep adding more, doesn’t that leave less time for the core task  which is to teach mathematical literacy? 

The change to how they will report marks in the report cards seems to be diminishing the available data that helps isolate where a curriculum might be failing, or help pinpoint where a student might need extra work.

And they are going to write new texbooks, prepare new lesson plans, teach the math teachers this new curriculum, and get this implemented over this summer during a pandemic!”  ~ Ottawa parent

Some components of the Ontario math curriculum

Let’s have a look at the new components to the math curriculum:

More understanding of money;

Practical examples of mathematics in everyday life for an elementary school students are pretty limited especially when it comes to finances.  How much does a person in grade 1 earn?  Where do they get money from?  Are they investing in RRSPs?  Saving for a down payment for a house?  I’m a little confused how you relate some of these ideas to everyday life for a person between the ages of 6-13? 

computer programming skills, with the idea of improving problem solving skills and greater technology capabilities; 

Problem solving skills are certainly something that everyone can continue developing, not just elementary school students.  What is the biggest problem a student in grades 1-8 face?  When they can meet up with friends?  Getting the latest shoes?

practical examples connecting math to every day life;

Finding a way to get the latest shoes is a practical every day life problem for someone in grade 7 or 8 and it involves money and finances.

focus on math fundamentals which include learning and recalling number facts, [1]

 and memorizing the 12 times table.

Aren’t number facts and times tables fundamental before being able to program, understand money and finances and more?

Perhaps learning to use Quickbooks incorporates finances, technology and problem solving.  But does it include math fundamentals and the 12 times table?  In general, the motivation for the new curriculum seems to be coming from a good place.  It will be interesting to see how this new curriculum evolves and then is implemented. 

More recently the school boards have been working on the logistics of school education once September starts.  Will it be all virtual; all in class; a combination of virtual learning and classroom learning, who knows.  That will also be interesting.

References

  1. Ontario Introduces New Math Curriculum for Elementary Students, June 23, 2020, Ontario.ca, URL: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/06/ontario-introduces-new-math-curriculum-for-elementary-students
  2. Ontario unveils updated elementary math curriculum, Caroline Alphonso, June 23, 2020, Globe and Mail, URL: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-unveils-updated-elementary-math-curriculum/

You may also like

function
Published

Discover the value of functions

I think of a function as a rule or tool or machine that does a specific set of procedures to a given input that results in an output. If I think of a function as a machine, the machine requires certain inputs before it can do something and then spits something out the other end.

picture of graphs
Published

How many women really are in math and sciences?

Let’s look at the numbers of women studying mathematics and STEM related subjects. We’ll also look women in STEM related jobs, how many, how much they earn and some of the possible reasons why there are not more than there are. We will also look at some positives. Women in STEM careers do earn 35% more than women in non-STEM careers.

women in math and STEM
Published

Discover the history of remarkable female mathematicians – Part 1

Math and many of the sciences seem to be traditionally male dominated professions. This doesn’t mean that only men have contributed to these fields. While researching female mathematicians in history, I came across more that I realized. So many so, one post is not sufficient. Below is a short list of notable female mathematicians throughout history. There are many more and another second short list of notable female mathematicians will follow. Below is a brief introduction to some of these mathematicians, in no particular order. While each received many awards and held important positions in the academic and mathematical community, their greatest impact was that they preserved in a predominantly male discipline helping to pave the way for the next generation of female mathematicians.

Dividing by zero mistake
Published

The silly math mistakes we have made in class

Exam time is fast approaching and the goal is to get collect as many marks as possible on the exam. The easiest way to collect marks is to minimize the number of “silly” mistakes made. What are silly mistakes? I’m not even sure I can replicate all the silly mistakes I have seen, notice and point out to students that cost students marks. Even students can’t believe the mistakes they make when they get their tests back. Sometimes it costs students that one mark that is the difference between a pass and a fail.