District Plans Ahead, Charting New Middle School Mathematics Pathway for Algebraic Proficiency

With the future in mind, Redwood City School District (RCSD) is exploring new middle school mathematics curricula, seeking innovative ways to engage students and enhance their mathematical skills while laying the foundation for a successful high school transition.

In anticipation of the forthcoming California state adoption list in November 2025, RCSD aims to realign teaching methodologies with the latest educational research while nurturing an environment conducive to students’ mathematical growth.

The pathway toward a successful transition to high school Algebra and other rigorous courses depends not only on content knowledge, but also on understanding the “why” behind mathematics, as well as using mathematical language to communicate their reasoning.

As RCSD teachers prepare middle school students for high school, there is a commitment to tap into each student’s strengths and build from it, helping students discover that mathematics helps them understand the world more completely and to apply critical thinking skills essential to help change and improve the world.

8th grade students in Ms. Xa Mai’s classroom at Roy Cloud School engage in the Notice and Wonder routine, sharing their observations and curiosities about a math problem. This activity helps build a strong math community and ensures every student’s voice is heard, creating an inclusive space for exploring mathematical ideas

RCSD’s current curriculum for middle school, Core Connections 1-3, College Preparatory Mathematics (CPM), and its elementary curriculum, Illustrative Math K-5, both incorporate this thinking into daily lessons.

“Creating meaningful mathematical experiences that engage students, both on a collaborative and individual level, that supports their mathematical sense making, will be the focal point for any curriculum that we pilot,” said Kendall Klein, RCSD Staff Development Instructional Coach.

Based on positive experiences using College Preparatory Math (CPM) in middle school, select classrooms piloted their new curriculum, Inspiring Connections, for the 2023-24 school year. The success of the elementary school Illustrative Math program led committee members to select Illustrative 6-8 for a 2024-25 pilot period.

During the pilot period, teachers and coaches are looking for a curriculum that meaningfully supports grade-level learning for all students while providing rigorous tasks and experiences that deepen students' conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts that will lead to strong procedural fluency. Procedural fluency is the students' ability to apply their learned strategies flexibly and accurately in their problem solving. Middle school teachers are already incorporating such strategies into their lessons.

8th grade students in Ms. Xa Mai’s classroom at Roy Cloud School explore the concept of similarity in geometric figures, learning to justify their claims. By using similar triangles, they discover how to write equations for lines and gain a deeper understanding of slope and linear relationships

“We are eager to find a curriculum that includes the instructional strategies and routines our teachers know to be effective in every lesson plan so there is a clear progression and coherence within and across grades,” Klein said.

Numerical flexibility, problem-solving skills, and conceptual understanding are key skills needed as students prepare for high school algebra and beyond. These skills are fostered through lessons which include engaging, hands-on, thought-provoking tasks that promote mathematical discussions.

**Roy Cloud 8th grade Teacher Xa Mai Checks with a Student**

Best instructional practices and latest research promote embedded connections across concepts, opportunities for discourse among peers, and the chance for students to take risks and refine their thinking.

The timeline for a new curriculum selection is set for the 2024-25 school year.

Key student skills and habits teachers tap into:

Mathematical Skills:

Number flexibility: The ability to work with numbers and see what they are made of and combine them in different ways
Concepts & Procedures: The Mastery of both mathematical concepts and procedures, emphasizing depth of understanding alongside procedural fluency.
Mathematical Modeling: The ability to represent, interpret and analyze real-world situations mathematically.
Understanding of key algebraic concepts such as: Univariate & bivariate data, linear functions, exponential functions, and quadratic functions.
Multiple Representations: The ability to analyze and interpret mathematical data presented in various forms (tables, graphs, equations).
Communicating Reasoning: The ability to create viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Student Habits:

Consistent attendance and active participation in class discussions and activities.
Effective time management skills to complete assignments and review materials regularly.
Willingness to seek help when facing challenges and actively engage in problem-solving.
Strong organizational skills to keep track of assignments, notes, and important deadlines.
Positive attitude towards learning mathematics and a growth mindset to embrace challenges and persevere through difficulties.