Miss Vermeulen's Math Help Site
https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1
Welcome students, parents, and families! I am Carpenter Elementary's Math Support Specialist. This website contains links to different math games students can play on the computer, ipad apps you can buy and download, homework help, monthly newsletters, and much more!
Browse around the website to find what you are looking for. Please feel free to write on the forum at the bottom if there is something you would like to see added to the site!
Browse around the website to find what you are looking for. Please feel free to write on the forum at the bottom if there is something you would like to see added to the site!
Parents:
A main concern I have heard from many of you is that math is not taught the same as before so there is difficulty helping your child, regardless of their grade. Why is this? Math has taken a new direction across the country, pushing students of today to become higher level thinkers. "Common Core," is the new nation-wide push in which students all over the country are learning math (and other subjects!) in a whole new way. We are now asking students to model, explain, and deepen their thinking. Students are already immensely improving their understanding of mathematics. They can explain to me, a friend, or a parent WHY they added/ subtracted/ multiplied/ divided and HOW it works. The math talk in the classrooms is so exciting to hear! Be sure to ask your students questions about the math and they will IMPRESS you with their new knowledge!
Along with these new Common Core Standards, there is now eight Standards for Mathematical Practice. These practices are strategies students use to talk to one another about math. I am working with my students to help understand and apply these new practices. Students now have choices in math. If one way does not make much sense, there is always alternative way that he/she may be more likely to understand!
How can I help as a parent?
This is another question many of you have brought up to me this year. Along with advice on the monthly newsletters, I have also attached math background on new units, tutorial videos on some strategies students use to solve problems, and other resources into your student's grade level under homework help. Our district has finalized and decided on Math Expressions as our new curriculum! Carpenter along with all of the Lake Orion teachers are very pleased and excited about this decision! Please feel free to read this Parent Handout for Math Expressions, which gives some great information about the new curriculum that is now being implemented. Check out Homework Help for all the available resources!