Contents (Tentative) Foreword Acknowledgment Introduction Acceleration Is Not Remediation Phrases We Need to Know 1. Research on Acceleration What Is Acceleration? What Is the Shift? Why Do We Accelerate? What Are the Benefits of Accelerating? How Do We Accelerate? Summary 2. Unpacking Prior Knowledge: Assessment as the Key to Acceleration The Importance of Prior Knowledge What Prior Knowledge Should Be Prioritized? Trickiness of Prior Knowledge The Role of Prior Knowledge in Accelerating Math Explicitly Tapping into Prior Knowledge Activating Prior Knowledge Posters Metacognition Graphic Organizers to Tap into Prior Knowledge Schema/Prior Knowledge Maps Summary 3. Acceleration and the Teaching of Math Vocabulary Directly Teaching the Vocabulary Practicing the Vocabulary Weaving the Vocabulary Throughout the Lesson Summary 4. Acceleration Lesson Plan Format Instruction Plan Assessment Plan Progress Monitoring Keeping Track Throughout the Lesson Planning Checklists Reflecting on the Acceleration Process Summary 5. Acceleration and Pedagogy Eight Recommendations for Mathematical Intervention Explicit and Systematic Instruction Math Intervention Lesson Distributed and Deliberate Practice Visualization Manipulatives Diagrams and Graphic Organizers Visuals for Word Problems Number Paths and Number Lines Graphic Organizers Visual Displays Choosing the Best Graphic Organizers Word Problems Fluency Math Think Alouds Emergent Bilinguals Building Mathematical Proficiency Math Practices and Processes Professional Development Summary 6. Acceleration: A Primary Classroom Example Jamal A Week of Scaffolding the Bridging 10 Strategy Tracking a 1-Week Acceleration Cycle A Week of Acceleration Evaluating the Acceleration Cycle Supporting the Acceleration Cycle Summary 7. Acceleration: An Upper Elementary Example Lucy Two Weeks of Scaffolding Division: Big Division Ideas Tracking a Two-Week Acceleration Cycle 8. Acceleration: A Middle School Example Mario Learning Trajectory of Division Two Weeks of Scaffolding Fraction Division: Big Fraction Ideas Tracking a Two-Week Acceleration Cycle Prior Knowledge: Trace of Dividing Fractions by Fractions Lesson 1: Dividing a Whole Number by a Fraction Lesson 2: Dividing a Whole Number by Any Fraction Dividing a Unit Fraction by a Whole Number Dividing a Fraction by a Fraction Progress Monitoring Daily Exit Slips Example of Mapping an Acceleration Cycle Reflecting on the Acceleration Cycle Supporting the Acceleration Cycle Summary 9. Connecting Progress Monitoring, Goal Setting, and Motivation Progress Monitoring for Acceleration Goal Setting Student Goal Setting High Quality Feedback and Motivation Motivation and Growth Mindset Summary Epilogue. Acceleration in Action: A Classroom Example Christine King References About the Author
Schools have been using various approaches to address the pandemic-related struggles that students are experiencing with mathematics. There is an overwhelming consensus among both educators and researchers that we need to adopt acceleration rather than remediation as a tool to counteract the challenges that students currently face. Acceleration is about equity, which allows all our students to access an engaging, standards-based, academically rigorous, grade-level curriculum. In this book, educational consultant Dr. Nicki Newton shows K-8 teachers how to accelerate mathematics instruction so that all students learn and work on grade level, receive the right scaffolding when they need it, and feel a sense of achievement and success. Educators will in turn experience less frustration and the joy of helping students thrive. Including numerous strategies, tools, and downloadable templates, this book addresses research, planning, assessment, pedagogy, teaching math vocabulary, lesson planning, goal setting and motivation, and action planning. Readers will learn how to use acceleration to get everybody motivated to learn and to create pathways of achievement. Book Features: Unpacks accelerating instruction as a way of saying "everybody is invited to this party." Looks at how acceleration provides a pathway to helping academically challenged students achieve and move in step with their grade-level standards. Offers detailed ways to plan, implement, and evaluate accelerated math lessons in grades K-8. Provides strategies, tools, and downloadable templates so readers can use ideas right away.
Nicki Newton is an education consultant (drnickinewton.com) who works with schools and districts around the United States and Canada on K-8 math curriculum (including best practices, guided math, and math centers) as well as curriculum mapping. She has taught elementary school, middle school, and graduate school.