Math Skills Builder develops students’ emerging problem-solving skills using real-world math problems. The real-life scenarios in the curriculum help students learn when and why to use their math problem-solving skills. Math Skills Builder uses authentic story problems as the focus of all instruction so students learn to apply their new skills from the get-go.
Eight units of instruction with five lessons each, provide over 500 story problems that are theme-based (e.g., math in the grocery store). Problems were written by teachers to represent a variety of students’ interests, preferences, and community contexts. The eight units teach students to solve addition (sums to 10) and subtraction story problems (differences to 9) use three problem-solving strategies: Group, Change, and Compare.
The teacher-friendly lessons are scripted to suggest feedback responses for prompting, error correction, and praise, and each math story problem is presented using various media, including a workbook, software/iPad app, and video simulations to ensure student success.
Students with mild disabilities will advance through the curriculum quickly and be ready for higher-level math concepts; students with moderate-to-severe disabilities may require multiple years of instruction. The curriculum begins with a review of early numeracy foundational skills, then advances to solving math story problems. It is designed to be taught in small groups for ease of instruction; lessons address adaptations required for students who are nonreaders and/or nonverbal. All materials students will need are included: Counting Cubes, graphic organizers, markers and pens and handy zipper pouches for keeping materials organized.
The software/iPad app provides additional practice for students and gathers data as students work; it also provides an opportunity for assessment of a unit to determine whether the student is ready to move to the next unit. Detailed data summaries are available for teacher viewing.
In this curriculum, problem-solving is taught in an explicit manner using principles of direct instruction, task analytic instruction, and self-monitoring strategies.
