Mathematics Philosophy
The Mathematics program in Seymour Public Schools equips students with the skills to be mathematically literate, understand key mathematical concepts, develop strong computational abilities, and apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Our goal is to empower students to make informed decisions, build confidence in their mathematical reasoning, and successfully navigate an increasingly data-driven global society.
Teachers select complex, meaningful mathematical tasks that encourage students to engage deeply with concepts, drawing from various mathematical disciplines. Students approach problems from multiple perspectives, exploring different representations to develop effective strategies. Whether working independently or collaboratively, with appropriate access to technology, they engage in productive problem-solving and critical reflection under the guidance of their teachers. Through oral and written communication, students articulate their ideas, justify their reasoning, and seek feedback to strengthen their understanding.
Delivery Methods
Effective mathematics instruction in Seymour Public Schools requires teachers to possess strong content knowledge, effective instructional skills, and sound pedagogy. Teachers design inquiry-based lessons, select meaningful problems, and encourage multiple solution pathways to foster student engagement. Regular assessment of student understanding is embedded in instruction, with teachers prompting students to justify their reasoning in ways appropriate to their level of mathematical maturity, exploring why mathematical statements are true and where mathematical rules originate. A balanced approach to mathematics education ensures equal emphasis on conceptual understanding, computational and procedural fluency, and problem-solving through diverse strategies and tools.
Standards
In the creation of the Seymour Public Schools mathematics curriculum, the Vision of a Wildcat served as the foundation, with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) carefully considered for developmental and conceptual appropriateness at each level.
Our curriculum upholds high standards and expectations, ensuring that students consistently apply the CCSS Mathematical Practices:
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
- Model with mathematics
- Use appropriate tools strategically
- Attend to precision
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Look for and make use of structure
Mathematics Transfer Goals
Students in Seymour Public Schools will be able to independently use their learning to:
- Develop and implement a plan using a variety of strategies, evaluate its effectiveness, and assess the reasonableness and accuracy of the solution.
- Represent real-world and mathematical situations using reasoning and symbolic notation.
- Construct viable arguments using precise mathematical language and critique the reasoning of others.
- Apply mathematical models to analyze and solve problems.
- Select and utilize appropriate tools to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and accuracy in problem-solving.
- Demonstrate fluency in mathematical computations, operations, and definitions.
- Identify and generalize patterns and structures in numbers, expressions, data, and objects.
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Apply an understanding of known patterns to new problems and establish meaningful connections between mathematical concepts.
Vision of a Graduate
Summarize the project’s greatest areas of impact
- Impact 1
- Impact 2
- Impact 3
Mathematics Resources
