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Mathematics
Ms. Mina’s Method for Teaching Mathematics
The method of teaching math we use is one I developed over decades of working successfully with students possessing a wide range of skills. Every student attending our school will advance to a high level of understanding using this methodology. If your child is weak in math it is not because they cannot learn the material, I believe it is due to poor teaching methods. Our kindergartners by third grade typically have completed all elementary mathematics in depth.
Basic skills are taught in depth with 90 minutes of math class over the course of each school day. Students develop a strong foundation in math before learning more advanced skills. Only after a student masters each step, does he/she move to the next level. The pace and complexity of the math program is adjusted to the individual child. No student is forced into a one-size-fits-all environment as is often found in larger classroom settings.
My concept is simple and effective: all critical knowledge must be learned before advancing from addition and subtraction to multiplication and division. Too often children are passed to the next grade without the requisite skills to handle more advanced math topics. At our school every student, at every level, is provided the intellectual tools needed to do well in mathematics. No one is left behind and there is no upper limit on learning. It is no surprise that a lot of our parents have told me we perform miracles as their children not only do exceedingly well in math but also have grown to love the subject!
Regular use of hands on learning tools at all levels, incorporating place-value blocks, physical counting models, and other manipulatives into the program helps students to develop a concrete understanding of abstract numbers and concepts that will last a lifetime.
As the children move through the lesson material, previous topics are reviewed to reinforce concepts and to prepare them for more advanced mathematics. In each “packet,” students have numerous opportunities to apply what they have studied using real-world problems. The pace is determined by the ability of the individual child to absorb and use their skills, not by chronological age or an assigned grade level. The result is a math friendly environment in which children as young as first grade enjoy adding or subtracting 4-digit numbers in their head with ease!
Your child will excel in math because all of our teachers know how to teach students to think critically and with the confidence and desire to continue tackling higher level math successfully in high school, college and beyond.
Ms. Mina Kondner
Headmaster
ADDITION
In the addition lessons, the students use manipulatives such as ten blocks and place value mats. We make sure every student knows each lesson before the child moves on to the next step of addition.
We begin by teaching numbers (reading and making numbers). By the end of the addition package, students will have learned to add three-digit numbers to three-digit numbers mentally and to add larger numbers on paper.
SUBTRACTION
In subtraction, we use same manipulatives as in the addition package along with real-world money. Students learn simple subtraction and end up mentally able to subtract numbers in the thousands. They also learn about monetary units and to use their mental math knowledge to handle currency problems. Students also learn how to subtract on paper and to regroup numbers. Finally, they are given a variety of word problems that include addition and subtraction.
SIMPLE MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION
For multiplication, students use manipulatives which are called the “spider and caterpillar.” The spider and caterpillar legs are filled with identical groups of beads and then used as a visual aid or hands on multiplication table. Coins and cubes, or counters, provide another way for our students to visually understand multiplication and division.
ADVANCED MULTIPLICATION
The advanced multiplication package teaches students rounding and how to multiply two-digit numbers times a one-digit number mentally. Students complete this topic with the know how to multiply three-digit by two-digit numbers on paper.
LONG DIVISION
The long division package starts with the reinforcement of simple division to connect it with the estimation of division. With the estimation skill, many students can easily do long division without any guessing. The long division lesson starts with small long division problems and moves to larger numbers. By the end of the package, students learn about divisibility and practice related word problems. These word problems are made easy through a method called “group, in the group, total.” Using this process, students can perform multiplication, division, times as much, and any other word problems that typically are harder due to the wording and numbers.
FRACTIONS
During the fraction lessons, students use fraction bars to envision and understand each lesson within the packages. Fractions are divided into five packages: introduction, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each package prepares the child for the next lesson.
Introduction to Fractions
In this package, students learn all there is to know about simple and more complex fractions. Topics included in the beginning level incorporates work that prepares students for the next level, and includes greatest common factor (GCF), Least Common Multiple (LCM), equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and, improper and mixed numbers.
Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division of Fractions
Students use the skills gained in the beginning fraction lessons to add, subtract, multiply, and divide simple fractions and mixed numbers. By the end of this topic students are able to work independently to solve word problems and write down the mathematical process.
DECIMALS
The decimal package uses a manipulative called the “decimal chart.” Students start by gaining a working knowledge of the meaning of decimals. Then they learn how to do mental math with decimals, including adding, subtracting, and multiplying the numbers. Children add, subtract, and apply these skills to multiplication and division of decimals using a simple method. Students also learn to convert fractions to decimals and vice versa. By the end of this topic, students work on decimal word problems.
PERCENT
In the percent lessons, students also will use the decimal chart to understand the connection between decimals and percent. Fraction bars create a visual connection between fractions and percent. This helps students convert decimals and fractions to percent and vice versa. After students properly understand each concept in the percent package, they move on to complete 7th grade level percent lessons. Seventh grade percent work includes ratio, rate, unit rate, and proportion. With that knowledge, students can apply proportions to solve percent word problems. They work on word problems containing percent questions and a mix of other topics from earlier lessons. The percent package is considered the end of an elementary level knowledge of mathematics. At this point the level of many of the questions is similar to that found on the SAT test!
INTEGERS
In our integers package, we use a number line, and blue and red tiles that represent debt and earning (positive and negative). Learning through these manipulatives, students grow to understand completely when they should add or subtract, and when an answer is negative or positive. Students also use their addition and subtraction mental math skills to work with integers. With the knowledge gained from the integers and fraction’s packages, students can easily perform all four operations with negative and positive fractions.
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
In the measurement unit, there is an emphasis on the metric system. Students also learn to use the “customary system” for every day measurement. Students practice the lesson using manipulatives that visually demonstrate the different types of units and their meaning. At the end of this package, students are taught about elapsed time. As in other lessons, the measurement topic requires a lot of practice.
GEOMETRY
The geometry package starts with a simple understanding of shapes. This package uses a combination of practice problems found in the 6th and 7th grade math book. The lessons are taught from those books and manipulatives are used to reinforce each lesson on shapes, lines, angles, etc. Using “nets,” students take a three-dimensional shape and unfold it to create a two-dimensional space figure which they can work with to find the surface area of a solid. The children develop a deep understanding of the relationship between two- and three-dimensional objects.
By the end of this package, the student will learn how to find the perimeter, area, and volume of every shape through a concrete understanding of geometry rather than solely memorizing formulas soon forgotten.
EQUATIONS
In this package, students learn to combine like terms and by the end to solve for the variable in both simple and complex equations using integers and fractions. They also learn to factor numbers in preparation for algebra.
EXPONENTS
The exponents package teaches students about positive and negative exponents, solving equations with exponents, and using scientific notation.
Ms. Mina’s Method for Teaching Mathematics
The method of teaching math we use is one I developed over decades of working successfully with students possessing a wide range of skills. Every student attending our school will advance to a high level of understanding using this methodology. If your child is weak in math it is not because they cannot learn the material, I believe it is due to poor teaching methods. Our kindergartners by third grade typically have completed all elementary mathematics in depth.
Basic skills are taught in depth with 90 minutes of math class over the course of each school day. Students develop a strong foundation in math before learning more advanced skills. Only after a student masters each step, does he/she move to the next level. The pace and complexity of the math program is adjusted to the individual child. No student is forced into a one-size-fits-all environment as is often found in larger classroom settings.
My concept is simple and effective: all critical knowledge must be learned before advancing from addition and subtraction to multiplication and division. Too often children are passed to the next grade without the requisite skills to handle more advanced math topics. At our school every student, at every level, is provided the intellectual tools needed to do well in mathematics. No one is left behind and there is no upper limit on learning. It is no surprise that a lot of our parents have told me we perform miracles as their children not only do exceedingly well in math but also have grown to love the subject!
Regular use of hands on learning tools at all levels, incorporating place-value blocks, physical counting models, and other manipulatives into the program helps students to develop a concrete understanding of abstract numbers and concepts that will last a lifetime.
As the children move through the lesson material, previous topics are reviewed to reinforce concepts and to prepare them for more advanced mathematics. In each “packet,” students have numerous opportunities to apply what they have studied using real-world problems. The pace is determined by the ability of the individual child to absorb and use their skills, not by chronological age or an assigned grade level. The result is a math friendly environment in which children as young as first grade enjoy adding or subtracting 4-digit numbers in their head with ease!
Your child will excel in math because all of our teachers know how to teach students to think critically and with the confidence and desire to continue tackling higher level math successfully in high school, college and beyond.
Ms. Mina Kondner
Headmaster
ADDITION
In the addition lessons, the students use manipulatives such as ten blocks and place value mats. We make sure every student knows each lesson before the child moves on to the next step of addition.
We begin by teaching numbers (reading and making numbers). By the end of the addition package, students will have learned to add three-digit numbers to three-digit numbers mentally and to add larger numbers on paper.
SUBTRACTION
In subtraction, we use same manipulatives as in the addition package along with real-world money. Students learn simple subtraction and end up mentally able to subtract numbers in the thousands. They also learn about monetary units and to use their mental math knowledge to handle currency problems. Students also learn how to subtract on paper and to regroup numbers. Finally, they are given a variety of word problems that include addition and subtraction.
SIMPLE MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION
For multiplication, students use manipulatives which are called the “spider and caterpillar.” The spider and caterpillar legs are filled with identical groups of beads and then used as a visual aid or hands on multiplication table. Coins and cubes, or counters, provide another way for our students to visually understand multiplication and division.
ADVANCED MULTIPLICATION
The advanced multiplication package teaches students rounding and how to multiply two-digit numbers times a one-digit number mentally. Students complete this topic with the know how to multiply three-digit by two-digit numbers on paper.
LONG DIVISION
The long division package starts with the reinforcement of simple division to connect it with the estimation of division. With the estimation skill, many students can easily do long division without any guessing. The long division lesson starts with small long division problems and moves to larger numbers. By the end of the package, students learn about divisibility and practice related word problems. These word problems are made easy through a method called “group, in the group, total.” Using this process, students can perform multiplication, division, times as much, and any other word problems that typically are harder due to the wording and numbers.
FRACTIONS
During the fraction lessons, students use fraction bars to envision and understand each lesson within the packages. Fractions are divided into five packages: introduction, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each package prepares the child for the next lesson.
Introduction to Fractions
In this package, students learn all there is to know about simple and more complex fractions. Topics included in the beginning level incorporates work that prepares students for the next level, and includes greatest common factor (GCF), Least Common Multiple (LCM), equivalent fractions, comparing fractions and, improper and mixed numbers.
Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division of Fractions
Students use the skills gained in the beginning fraction lessons to add, subtract, multiply, and divide simple fractions and mixed numbers. By the end of this topic students are able to work independently to solve word problems and write down the mathematical process.
DECIMALS
The decimal package uses a manipulative called the “decimal chart.” Students start by gaining a working knowledge of the meaning of decimals. Then they learn how to do mental math with decimals, including adding, subtracting, and multiplying the numbers. Children add, subtract, and apply these skills to multiplication and division of decimals using a simple method. Students also learn to convert fractions to decimals and vice versa. By the end of this topic, students work on decimal word problems.
PERCENT
In the percent lessons, students also will use the decimal chart to understand the connection between decimals and percent. Fraction bars create a visual connection between fractions and percent. This helps students convert decimals and fractions to percent and vice versa. After students properly understand each concept in the percent package, they move on to complete 7th grade level percent lessons. Seventh grade percent work includes ratio, rate, unit rate, and proportion. With that knowledge, students can apply proportions to solve percent word problems. They work on word problems containing percent questions and a mix of other topics from earlier lessons. The percent package is considered the end of an elementary level knowledge of mathematics. At this point the level of many of the questions is similar to that found on the SAT test!
INTEGERS
In our integers package, we use a number line, and blue and red tiles that represent debt and earning (positive and negative). Learning through these manipulatives, students grow to understand completely when they should add or subtract, and when an answer is negative or positive. Students also use their addition and subtraction mental math skills to work with integers. With the knowledge gained from the integers and fraction’s packages, students can easily perform all four operations with negative and positive fractions.
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT
In the measurement unit, there is an emphasis on the metric system. Students also learn to use the “customary system” for every day measurement. Students practice the lesson using manipulatives that visually demonstrate the different types of units and their meaning. At the end of this package, students are taught about elapsed time. As in other lessons, the measurement topic requires a lot of practice.
GEOMETRY
The geometry package starts with a simple understanding of shapes. This package uses a combination of practice problems found in the 6th and 7th grade math book. The lessons are taught from those books and manipulatives are used to reinforce each lesson on shapes, lines, angles, etc. Using “nets,” students take a three-dimensional shape and unfold it to create a two-dimensional space figure which they can work with to find the surface area of a solid. The children develop a deep understanding of the relationship between two- and three-dimensional objects.
By the end of this package, the student will learn how to find the perimeter, area, and volume of every shape through a concrete understanding of geometry rather than solely memorizing formulas soon forgotten.
EQUATIONS
In this package, students learn to combine like terms and by the end to solve for the variable in both simple and complex equations using integers and fractions. They also learn to factor numbers in preparation for algebra.
EXPONENTS
The exponents package teaches students about positive and negative exponents, solving equations with exponents, and using scientific notation.