FAQs:
Frequently
Asked
Questions

How is Math Trailblazers different from other mathematics curricula?

Traditional Programs: 

• Traditional mathematics curricula generally focus on the sequential development of individual skills, with the greatest emphasis placed on the development of paper-and-pencil arithmetic skills and procedures. 
  Most of the treatment of arithmetic is isolated from any context. 

Math Trailblazers:

• This is a balanced program where students actively engage in solving a wide variety of mathematics problems that arise from many different contexts. 
• Students become resourceful and proficient problem-solvers as they explore different ways to solve problems and different ways to represent mathematical situations using such tools as manipulatives, calculators, graphs, pictures, data tables, and numbers. 
• Skills and procedures are introduced conceptually to enhance studentsí understanding and retention. Regular, distributed practice is provided throughout the curriculum. 
• Connections to other content areas, especially science and language arts, are common. 
• Important mathematical content that generally receives inadequate attention in traditional texts, such as estimation, geometry, measurement, and probability, are significant topics. 

If I use Math Trailblazers, will my students learn the skills, such as proficiency with the basic facts and pencil-and-paper computation, that are emphasized in a more traditional program?

• Math Trailblazers includes a careful balance between concepts and skills. Along with a much broader range of mathematics content than a traditional mathematics curriculum, attention is paid to the arithmetic that is the central focus of traditional math textbook series. 
• Students are expected to develop facility with the math facts and do appropriate paper-and-pencil computation. Math facts and paper-and-pencil procedures are introduced using research-based methods that enhance learning and retention. 
• Students find multiple ways to solve problems, rather than rote methods, which provides meaning to the paper-and-pencil procedures. 
• The use of mental math and estimation is emphasized as students solve problems. Through extensive practice in varied contexts, students learn to determine when it is appropriate to use paper-and-pencil procedures, calculators, mental math, or estimation. 

What science does Math Trailblazers include?

• Math Trailblazers takes the heart of science "the Scientific Method" and adapts it for use as a tool for solving a wide variety of problems. 
• Students learn, through repeated use of the TIMS Laboratory Method, how scientists approach and solve problems and how to design and carry out controlled scientific experiments. 
• Students systematically examine relationships among variables in a scientific experiment, a concept fundamental to the study of math and science. 
• Math Trailblazers focuses on science content that is essential to all areas of science: the variables of length, area, volume, mass, and time. Measurement is presented in meaningful, experimental situations. 
• Strong connections are made between the real world and abstract ideas. 
• Math Trailblazers is aligned in many ways with the National Science Education Standards from the National Research Council (NRC). 

How does Math Trailblazers integrate mathematics with other content areas?

• Rich contexts and diverse content offer unlimited opportunities for integration with other subject areas, particularly science and language arts. 
• Connections to other subject areas are often highlighted in the teacher's guides, but teachers who are looking for ways to integrate math with other subject areas will find many other opportunities to do so. 
• The TIMS method also encourages teachers to quantify other areas of the curriculum, such as social studies. 
• The extensive use of writing and other communication skills, the varied contexts that are used to explore mathematics, and the TIMS Adventure Books provide a solid start in connecting the mathematics in Math Trailblazers with language arts. 

What kind of assessment does Math Trailblazers include?

• Math Trailblazers offers a comprehensive and balanced assessment program. 
• Assessment is used not only to determine childrenís progress, but also to inform instruction. The rich and varied contexts of the Math Trailblazers curriculum and the emphasis on students communicating their mathematical knowledge allow teachers to learn about their studentsí mathematical progress and abilities in ways not possible in a traditional program. 
• Continual student assessment includes: open-ended problems, paper-and-pencil activities, portfolios, journal entries, and student explanations of solution strategies. 
• Some assessment activities are designed as small-group assessments; others assess children individually. 
• The teacherís guide for most activities includes an ìAssessment Ideasî section that focuses teachersí attention on special activities and suggested strategies for assessing student progress during the lesson. 
• Each unit contains a list of Ideas to Guide Assessment, which highlights the most important skills and concepts developed in that unit. An Assessment Record Sheet is also provided so that teachers can record each childís progress on those skills and concepts. 
• Each grade has specially designated assessment units. 
• The Teacher Implementation Guide provides a detailed description of the assessment program in each grade. 

Does Math Trailblazers make use of collaborative learning?

• Scientists and mathematicians have always worked in groups and the benefits of collaborative work in schools are well known. Math Trailblazers includes a balance of group work, individual work, and whole class instruction. 
• Many activities are intended to be carried out in groups of two or more students who work together. These include relatively long (three- to five-day) activities and shorter problem-solving tasks. 

Can Math Trailblazers facilitate teaching children with diverse learning styles and ability levels in a heterogeneous classroom?

• Extensive use of math tools, such as manipulatives, calculators, pictures, tables, and graphs, provides students with multiple entry points for learningósome students can approach a problem concretely using manipulatives or patterns while others may solve it symbolically with numbers. 
• Mathematical situations are represented in different ways, giving students different ways to look at a problem. 
• With Math Trailblazers, schools should find that they do not need to ability-group in mathematics, even if they ability-group for other subject areas. 
• Extra opportunities are provided throughout the program for students who are looking for special challenges. Many activities include extensions that take a lesson a bit further or in a new direction. The Daily Practice and Problems in Grades 3–5 regularly include ìTIMS Challengesîóinteresting problems that can be assigned to the entire class or to students who are ready for additional work. 

What materials do you have for parents?

• A parent brochure is available for distribution at the beginning of the school year. 
• Every unit begins with a letter home to parents. These letters include information about the important math concepts and skills in the unit and suggestions of simple activities parents can do at home with their children to explore math concepts further and continue to develop number sense. The parent letters have been translated into Spanish. 
• Many activities, particularly in the primary grades, include special explorations for parents. 
• The Teacher Implementation Guide includes a special section with suggestions for working with parents. 

Will Math Trailblazers align with my stateís and districtís guidelines for mathematics?

• State goals for mathematics instruction in many (if not most) states have either been revised or are being revised to reflect the NCTM Principles and Standards. 
• In the development of Math Trailblazers, guidelines from a broad sample of states were monitored to make sure that Math Trailblazers' content was consistent with most state guidelines. Math Trailblazers will likely align more closely with the guidelines in your state than most traditional programs.