Math Innovations
2013

Math Innovations

Publisher
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
Subject
Math
Grades
6-8
Report Release
04/07/2016
Review Tool Version
v1.0
Format
Core: Comprehensive

EdReports reviews determine if a program meets, partially meets, or does not meet expectations for alignment to college and career-ready standards. This rating reflects the overall series average.

Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Does Not Meet Expectations

Materials must meet expectations for standards alignment in order to be reviewed for usability. This rating reflects the overall series average.

Usability (Gateway 3)
NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
Not Eligible
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Additional Publication Details

Title ISBN
International Standard Book Number
Edition Publisher Year
978-0-7575-6214-3
978-0-7575-6215-0
978-0-7575-6696-7
978-0-7575-6697-4
978-0-7575-6704-9
978-0-7575-6705-6
978-0-7575-6740-4
978-0-7575-6741-4
978-1-4652-1242-9
978-1-4652-1243-6
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About This Report

Report for 7th Grade

Alignment Summary

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 do not meet the expectations for alignment to the CCSSM. An exceptional aspect of the materials is the integrated nature of the lessons. No topic is taught in isolation. Major work is incorporated in to supporting topics and many connections are made between domains and clusters. The materials go to great lengths to develop a conceptual understanding of math topics. However, the materials frequently cover off grade-level topics. In doing this, approximately 46 percent of the time is spent on the major work of the grade. The materials fail to follow the grade-by-grade progression, content from prior or future grades is not clearly identified, the materials do not relate grade level concepts explicitly to prior knowledge, and the lesson objectives are not shaped by the CCSSM cluster headings. Since the materials do not meet expectations for focus and coherence in Gateway 1, they were not reviewed for evidence of rigor and the mathematical practices in Gateway 2.

7th Grade
Gateway 2

Rigor & Mathematical Practices

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
0
10
16
18
Alignment (Gateway 1 & 2)
Does Not Meet Expectations
Usability (Gateway 3)
Not Rated
Overview of Gateway 1

Focus & Coherence

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 do not meet the expectation for focus and coherence with the CCSSM. Major work topics only account for approximately 46 percent of the instructional time. Major work is incorporated into lessons that focus on the supporting work, however too many topics are off grade-level. The integrated nature of the materials gives ample opportunity for supporting work to enhance the major work, and there are also many connections made between domains and clusters. However, far too much time is spent covering off grade-level topics. Because of this, the amount of content for one grade-level is not viable for one school year. Furthermore, the materials fail to follow the grade-by-grade progression, content from prior or future grades is not clearly identified, the materials do not relate grade level concepts explicitly to prior knowledge, and the materials are not shaped by the CCSSM cluster headings.

Criterion 1.1: Focus

02/02
Materials do not assess topics before the grade level in which the topic should be introduced.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for assessing material at the Grade 7 level. There are a few concepts assessed that are beyond the Grade 7 CCSSM, but the alteration or omission of these items would not significantly impact the structure of the materials. Overall, assessment questions that are reflected in two of the units involve above grade-level topics. This would not significantly impact the materials so focus on the CCSSM through assessments is maintained.

Indicator 1A
02/02
The instructional material assesses the grade-level content and, if applicable, content from earlier grades. Content from future grades may be introduced but students should not be held accountable on assessments for future expectations.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectations for assessment. There are only a few above grade-level assessment items whose accompanying lessons cannot be modified without impacting the underlying structure of the instructional materials. The instructional materials offer assessment materials on their Flourish website. These assessment materials include a quiz for each section of a unit and a unit test. There is an included test generator, which would enable teachers to omit all above grade-level assessment items. For this reason, when above grade-level questions were found on the unit tests and quizzes, the corresponding sections were examined to see the extent that students would be expected to understand the above grade-level topics and if it would be possible to modify the lesson. Listed below are the above grade-level assessment items that cannot be modified without impacting the structure of the materials and above grade-level assessment items that could be easily omitted without impact to the materials.

Assessment Items that impact the materials:

Accent on Algebra: Unit Test (Questions 8, 9 and 15) and Section 3 Quiz (Questions 7 and 14) call for students to write an explicit rule and find the nth term. The content of these questions aligns to 7.EE.4, however, the use of the term "explicit rule" introduces vocabulary that is not part of the Grade 7 standards. This vocabulary aligns with high school standard F.BF.2. Sections 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 in Accent on Algebra include this concept and would need to be skipped to avoid going above grade level.

Puzzling Proportions: Section 2 Quiz (Question 9) includes questions on similarity and corresponding sides. The concept of similarity is first introduced in the Grade 8. This above grade-level question is included in section 2.3 of puzzling proportion and that section would need to be skipped in order to avoid going above grade level.

Puzzling Proportions: Section 2 Quiz (Questions 5 and 6) and Unit Test (Question 8) include the term slope. The use of the term "slope" introduces vocabulary that is not part of the Grade 7 standards. Section 2.4 connects slope to similar triangles, which aligns to 8.EE.6. The section would have to be skipped to avoid going above grade-level.

Above grade-level assessment items that could be skipped without impacting the materials:

Accent of Algebra: Section 1 Quiz, Question 10, has students analyze the formula for the sum of interior angles of a polygon. The use of the formula for the sum of interior angles introduces a concept that aligns to G.CO.10. This question type is covered in Section 1.2, "Formulas." The section includes the use of many appropriate grade level formulas, and the quiz question could be skipped without impacting the underlying structure of the materials.

Criterion 1.2: Coherence

00/04
Students and teachers using the materials as designed devote the large majority of class time in each grade K-8 to the major work of the grade.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 are not designed to spend the majority of class time on the major clusters of each grade. Only about 46 percent of the days are spent on the major work of the grade, while the supporting work does incorporate some major work, too much time is spent on off grade-level topics. Overall, the instructional materials do not meet the criteria for the time devoted to the major work of the grade.

Indicator 1B
00/04
Instructional material spends the majority of class time on the major cluster of each grade.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 do not meet the expectations for focus by spending a majority of class time on the major work of the grade. There are five books/units included in the Grade 7 materials, those five books/units are each divided into three sections, which are then divided into lessons. A pacing guide is provided, which breaks down the number of days (45-minute class periods) per lesson. To determine the amount of time spent on major work, three perspectives were evaluated: 1) the number of sections devoted to major work, 2) the number of lessons devoted to major work, and 3) the number of days devoted to major work. The number of days devoted to major work is the most accurate reflection for this indicator because it specifically addresses the amount of class time spent on concepts. Overall, 58.75 out of the 127 days (approximately 46 percent) of the class time is devoted to major work, 30 out of 127 days (approximately 24 percent) of class time is devoted to supporting clusters, and 38.25 out of 127 days (approximately 30 percent) is spent covering off grade-level topics. At times, some lessons included major or supporting clusters and included above/below grade-level work. In those cases, the time was divided based on the number of examples and problems.

  • Sizing Up Solids: 6.25 out of 27 days of major work. 11.5 days of supporting clusters. 6.25 off grade level. 3 days of MPs.
  • Section 1: (1 out of 8 days of major work. 2 days of supporting clusters. 2 days off grade level. 3 days of MPs.)
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.G.A with some 7.EE.B (1 day of major work. 2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.G.A (2 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers mathematical practice standards 5 and 7 (0 days of major work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers mathematical practice standards 5 and 7 (0 days of major work).
  • Section 2: (0 out of 6 days of major work. 2 days of supporting clusters. 4 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers below grade level work 4.G.A (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade level work 4.MD.C (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.G.B (2 days of supporting work).
  • Section 3: (5.25 out of 13 days of major work. 7.5 days of supporting work. 0.25 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.G.A, 7.EE.B and 7.NS.B (1 day of major work. 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.G.A, 7.EE.B and 7.NS.B (0.5 day of major work. 0.5 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.G.A and 7.NS.A (1 day of major work and 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 4: Covers 7.G.A, 7.NS.A and goes above grade-level to 8.EE.B (0.75 days of major work, 0.25 days off grade-level and 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.G.B and 7.NS.B (1 day of major work. 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 6: Primarily covers 7.G.B and 7.NS.B (1 day of major work. 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 7: Primarily covers 7.G.B ( 2 days of supporting work.)
  • Puzzling Proportions: (16 out of 27 days of major work. 4.5 days of supporting work. 6.5 days off grade-level.)
  • Section 1: (5.5 out of 9 days of major work. 3.5 days off grade level.)
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.RP.A (1 day off grade-level).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade level work 6.RP.A also includes some 7.NS.A (0.5 days of major work. 1.5 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.RP.A (1 day off grade-level).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.RP.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.RP.A (3 days of major work).
  • Section 2: (2.5 out of 10 days of major work. 4.5 days of supporting work. 3 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.RP.A and 7.G.1 (1 day of major work. 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.RP.A and 7.G.1 (1 day of major work. 1 day of supporting work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers above grade-level work. 8.G.A also includes some 7.RP.A and 7.G.A (0.5 days of major work. 0.5 days of supporting work. 2 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers above grade level work 8.EE.B (1 day off grade level).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.G.1 (2 days of supporting work).
  • Section 3: (8 out of 8 days of major work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.EE.B and 7.RP.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.NS.A and 7.RP.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.NS.A and 7.RP.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.NS.A and 7.RP.A (2 days of major work).
  • Accent on Algebra: 18 out of 25 days of major work. 7 days off grade level).
  • Section 1: (8 out of 8 days of major work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (3 days of major work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (1 day of major work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.EE.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.EE.A (2 days of major work).
  • Section 2: (7 out of 7 days of major work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (1 days of major work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.EE.B (2 days of major work).
  • Section 3: (3 out of 10 days of major work. 7 days above grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.RP.A (3 days of major work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 8.F.B (2 days above grade level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers F-BF.A (3 days above grade level).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 8.F.B and F-BF.A (2 days above grade level).
  • Let's Be Rational: (14 out of 29 days are spent on major work. 15 days are spent off grade level).
  • Section 1: (4 out 14 days of major work. 10 days of off grade level work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers below grade-level work 4.NBT.A (3 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.NS.B and 6.NS.C (3 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers below grade-level work 5.NF.A (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers below grade-level work 5.NF.B (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 6: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
  • Section 2: (0 out of 5 days of major work. 5 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.NS.C (1 day off grade-level).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.NS.C (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.NS.C (2 days off grade-level).
  • Section 3: (10 out of 10 days of major work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (1 day of major work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (1 day of major work).
    • Lesson 6: Primarily covers 7.NS.A (2 days of major work).
  • Driven By Data: (1.5 out of 19 days of major work. 14 days of supporting work. 3.5 days off grade-level.)
  • Section 1: (0 out of 5 days of major work. 4 days of supporting work. 1 day off grade-level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers S-CP.B.9 (1 day off grade level).
  • Section 2: (0 out of 7 days of major work. 7 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.SP.C (1 day of supporting work).
  • Section 3: (1.5 out of 7 days of major work. 3 days of supporting work. 2.5 days off grade level).
    • Lesson 1: Primarily covers 7.SP.A (2 days of supporting work).
    • Lesson 2: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.SP.B but includes 7.NS.A (0.5 days of major work. 0.5 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 3: Primarily covers below grade-level work 6.SP.B (2 days off grade-level).
    • Lesson 4: Primarily covers 7.RP.A (1 day of major work).
    • Lesson 5: Primarily covers 7.SP.A (1 day of supporting work).

Criterion 1.3: Coherence

03/08
Coherence: Each grade's instructional materials are coherent and consistent with the Standards.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 do not meet the expectations for being coherent and consistent within the standards. The integrated nature of the materials gives ample opportunity for supporting work to enhance the major work, and there are also many connections made between domains and clusters. However, far too much time is spent covering off grade-level topics. Because of this, the amount of content for one grade-level is not viable for one school year. Furthermore, the materials fail to follow the grade-by-grade progression, content from prior or future grades is not clearly identified, the materials do not relate grade level concepts explicitly to prior knowledge, and the materials are not shaped by the CCSSM cluster headings.

Indicator 1C
02/02
Supporting content enhances focus and coherence simultaneously by engaging students in the major work of the grade.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 meet the expectation for the supporting content enhancing focus and coherence simultaneously by engaging students in the major work of the grade. It is noted that the theme of the materials is to integrate several topics into one lesson, and as a result, no one topic is taught in isolation. Overall, the major work of Grade 7 is incorporated into lessons that focus on the supporting clusters some examples of this indicator are listed below.

  • Sizing Up Solids:
    • Lesson 1.1: The focus of this lesson is that students gain an understanding of the characteristics of three-dimensional shapes and describe the two-dimensional figure that results from slicing a three-dimensional figure (7.G.3). In order to achieve this the materials have students find patterns of the numbers of faces, vertices, and edges of three-dimensional and write a rule to express this pattern (7.EE.4).
    • Lesson 3.1: The focus of this lesson is on measures of circles (7.G.4). In doing this students look at the ratio between circumference and diameter to get pi, a brief discussion of the division process and the resulting irrational number is made (7.NS.2.D). Students also use the formula for circumference to find unknown dimensions of a circle (7.EE.4).
    • Lesson 3.2: The focus of this lesson is on area of circles (7.G.4). The lesson includes students finding unknown dimensions when given either the area or circumference (7.EE.4). Additionally the problems use fractions and decimals in their measures, so students solve the given equations while practicing operations with rational numbers (7.NS.3).
    • Lessons 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5: The focus of these lessons is surface area (7.G.6). The problems use fractions and decimals in their measurements so students are simultaneously using operations with rational numbers in real-world problems (7.NS.3).
    • Lesson 3.6: The focus of this lesson is volume (7.G.6). The problems use fractions and decimals in their measurements so students are simultaneously using operations with rational numbers in real-world problems (7.NS.3).
  • Puzzling Proportions:
    • Lessons 2.1, 2.2 and 2.5. The focus of these sections is on scale models and drawings (7.G.1). In solving problems that use scale models, students simultaneously use proportions to find new measure when the scale was enlarged or reduced (7.RP.2).
Indicator 1D
00/02
The amount of content designated for one grade level is viable for one school year in order to foster coherence between grades.

The instructional materials for Grade 7 does not meet the expectations for the amount of content designated being viable for one school year. The materials claim to take between 175 and 180 days to cover. However, there are many off grade-level concepts covered in that time frame and some of the Grade 7 standards are not fully attended to.

  • The instructional materials would take 180 days to cover, however much of the time is spent on off grade-level work. If a teacher skipped these topics that would remove about 54 days of work, taking the amount of content to 126 days.
  • Some of the Grade 7 CCSSM are not taught to the depth required by the standard.
    • 7.RP.1. There is time spent on unit rates, however, there are very few problems that have students compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions as stated in the standard.
    • 7.SP.3 and 7.SP.4. There are very few examples of students comparing two populations, especially when it comes to comparing their measures of center and variability.
Indicator 1E
00/02
Materials are consistent with the progressions in the Standards i. Materials develop according to the grade-by-grade progressions in the Standards. If there is content from prior or future grades, that content is clearly identified and related to grade-level work ii. Materials give all students extensive work with grade-level problems iii. Materials relate grade level concepts explicitly to prior knowledge from earlier grades.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 do not meet the expectation for having materials that are coherent and consistent with the standards. Materials attempt to follow grade-by-grade progression, however too much attention is given to off, grade-level standards. Materials do not give all students extensive work with grade-level problems, and grade-level concepts are not explicitly related to prior knowledge.

Materials do not develop according to the grade-by-grade progressions in the standards. Content from prior or future grades is clearly identified and related to grade-level work

  • When there is content from prior or future grades, the content is not clearly identified and not explicitly stated. Some of the materials attempt to relate to prior knowledge by addressing below grade level standards but this is not explicitly stated.
  • Off grade-level work is present in every book/unit. The off grade-level work is not identified as such, though in some cases it might be a plausible extension or reinforcement of grade-level standards. In many cases, it is deliberately teaching a topic that is not intended in the Grade 7 standards. For example, the Let's Be Rational unit/book indicates that it aligns to 7.NS.1, 7.NS.2 and 7.NS.3 with no indication of below grade-level standards. The first section of this book/unit includes place value, placement of fractions and decimals on a number line, adding and subtracting fractions, and multiplying and dividing fractions. All of these topics are natural reinforcements of dividing fractions, however, the majority of time in this section is spent on review topics. Section 2, making sense of signed numbers, is a review of Grade 6 standards. Finally in section three students focus of the Grade 7 number sense standards. This book/unit spends more time reviewing than it does on grade level topics, but only indicates that it is presenting grade level information.
  • The notes in the Teachers’ Edition at the start of each section, “Teaching the Lesson” attempts to explain what concepts need to be developed first before students are able to be successful in the grade-level concepts and even above-level concepts. The progressions with the concepts are somewhat explained here, yet, it does not identify any standards within the unit.
  • There is evidence that the materials are following the progression. However, they are not necessarily concentrating on the mathematics of the grade. For example, in the unit/book on proportional relationships section 1 starts by exploring Grade 6 topics of ratios and rates with the last two sections focused on the Grade 7 topic of proportions. Section 2 appropriately connects proportion to scale drawings, but in section 2, the lessons progress from scale drawings to the Grade 8 topics of similar figures and slope. It is clear that this is a natural progression of the standards, however, the progression was not intended to take place in one school year. In presenting the concepts in this manner, less time is spent on the Grade 7 standards and students are not given the opportunity to fully develop their understanding.

Materials do not give all students extensive work with grade-level problems.

  • The problems in the On Your Own section provide students with the opportunities to engage deeply with the mathematics. The problem sets begin with writing about mathematics. The problem structures focus on open-ended, thought-provoking questions in which a student frequently has to preform an investigation and justify their reasoning.
  • The materials do not designate specific problems and examples that are on grade level as being appropriate for struggling students. It is expected that all students will engage in most of the problems. There are some suggested teaching strategies and tips, and some ready-made tools to help with special populations. However, if a student is not able to keep up with the high-level questions provided in the On Your Own section of the student materials, no alternates are provided.
  • For advanced students, there are Think Beyond Questions that are more rigorous and involve topics from later grades, and these can be found at the end of the On Your Own sections and can be included at the teacher discretion.

Materials do not relate grade-level concepts explicitly to prior knowledge from earlier grades

  • There are no signals or indications of when something is review or new information. The lessons frequently contain topics that are presented in a way that span multiple grade levels. However, the materials provide no indication of when this is happening and only indicate which grade-level topic is present. Furthermore, because of the integrated nature of the materials, even when a multi-grade topic is covered, it is almost impossible to easily identify the on-grade portion of the lesson.
  • The connections between concepts from previous grade levels are not clearly articulated from lesson to lesson. They make an effort to explain this process in the "Goals of the Unit" summary, but they do not clearly identify previous grade level standards to the current grade level standards.
Indicator 1F
01/02
Materials foster coherence through connections at a single grade, where appropriate and required by the Standards i. Materials include learning objectives that are visibly shaped by CCSSM cluster headings. ii. Materials include problems and activities that serve to connect two or more clusters in a domain, or two or more domains in a grade, in cases where these connections are natural and important.

The instructional materials reviewed for Grade 7 partially meet the expectation to foster coherence through connections at a single grade, where appropriate and required by the standards. The very integrated nature of the materials leads to frequent domain-to-domain and cluster-to-cluster connections. However, the materials partially have learning objectives that are shaped by the CCSSM. Overall, the materials included lessons that are not presented in isolation of other important topics, but the materials are not shaped by the CCSSM alone.

Materials partially include learning objectives that are visibly shaped by CCSSM cluster headings.

  • There are clearly identified lesson objectives at the beginning of each lesson that describe what students should be able to do by the end of the lesson. However, many of the objectives are not at grade level nor is there any indication that they are visibly shaped by CCSSM cluster headings. For example, in “Accent on Algebra”, lessons 3.3 and 3.4, the publisher states that these lessons focus on cluster headings 7.RP.A and 7.EE.A. The actual objectives focus on clusters dealing with determining explicit and recursive rules for linear relationships, which is a high school standard (F-BF.A).
  • The material sometimes includes learning objectives that are shaped by the CCSSM cluster heading, and sometimes there is not a clear connection to a grade level, CCSSM cluster heading. For example, in “Let’s Be Rational,” lesson 2.2, the publisher states that the cluster being addressed is 7.NS.A. Upon reading the lesson objectives, the lesson more closely addresses the cluster 6.NS.C.

Materials include problems and activities that serve to connect two or more clusters in a domain, or two or more domains in a grade, in cases where these connections are natural and important.

  • The materials are very integrated and as a result there are numerous examples of places that connections are made between domains and clusters.
    • Puzzling Proportions lesson 3.2. In this lesson students use their knowledge of setting up equations (7.NS.B) to solve percent problems (7.RP.A).
    • Accent on Algebra lesson 1.4. In this lesson students set up and solve algebraic expressions and equations (7.EE.B) while using the distributive property to understand equivalent expressions (7.EE.A).
    • Accent on Algebra lessons 2.1 and 2.2. In these two lesson students primarily learn strategies for solving equations (7.EE.B). The equations involve all types of rational numbers, thus students are also practicing 7.NS.3.
Overview of Gateway 2

Rigor & Mathematical Practices

Materials were not reviewed for Gateway Two because materials did not meet or partially meet expectations for Gateway One

Criterion 2.1: Rigor

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Rigor and Balance: Each grade's instructional materials reflect the balances in the Standards and help students meet the Standards' rigorous expectations, by helping students develop conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application.
Indicator 2A
00/02
Attention to conceptual understanding: Materials develop conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts, especially where called for in specific content standards or cluster headings.
Indicator 2B
00/02
Attention to Procedural Skill and Fluency: Materials give attention throughout the year to individual standards that set an expectation of procedural skill and fluency.
Indicator 2C
00/02
Attention to Applications: Materials are designed so that teachers and students spend sufficient time working with engaging applications of the mathematics, without losing focus on the major work of each grade
Indicator 2D
00/02
Balance: The three aspects of rigor are not always treated together and are not always treated separately. There is a balance of the 3 aspects of rigor within the grade.

Criterion 2.2: Math Practices

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Practice-Content Connections: Materials meaningfully connect the Standards for Mathematical Content and the Standards for Mathematical Practice
Indicator 2E
00/02
The Standards for Mathematical Practice are identified and used to enrich mathematics content within and throughout each applicable grade.
Indicator 2F
00/02
Materials carefully attend to the full meaning of each practice standard
Indicator 2G
Read
Emphasis on Mathematical Reasoning: Materials support the Standards' emphasis on mathematical reasoning by:
Indicator 2G.i
00/02
Materials prompt students to construct viable arguments and analyze the arguments of others concerning key grade-level mathematics detailed in the content standards.
Indicator 2G.ii
00/02
Materials assist teachers in engaging students in constructing viable arguments and analyzing the arguments of others concerning key grade-level mathematics detailed in the content standards.
Indicator 2G.iii
00/02
Materials explicitly attend to the specialized language of mathematics.

Criterion 3.1: Use & Design

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Use and design facilitate student learning: Materials are well designed and take into account effective lesson structure and pacing.
Indicator 3A
00/02
The underlying design of the materials distinguishes between problems and exercises. In essence, the difference is that in solving problems, students learn new mathematics, whereas in working exercises, students apply what they have already learned to build mastery. Each problem or exercise has a purpose.
Indicator 3B
00/02
Design of assignments is not haphazard: exercises are given in intentional sequences.
Indicator 3C
00/02
There is variety in what students are asked to produce. For example, students are asked to produce answers and solutions, but also, in a grade-appropriate way, arguments and explanations, diagrams, mathematical models, etc.
Indicator 3D
00/02
Manipulatives are faithful representations of the mathematical objects they represent and when appropriate are connected to written methods.
Indicator 3E
Read
The visual design (whether in print or online) is not distracting or chaotic, but supports students in engaging thoughtfully with the subject.

Criterion 3.2: Teacher Planning

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Teacher Planning and Learning for Success with CCSS: Materials support teacher learning and understanding of the Standards.
Indicator 3F
00/02
Materials support teachers in planning and providing effective learning experiences by providing quality questions to help guide students' mathematical development.
Indicator 3G
00/02
Materials contain a teacher's edition with ample and useful annotations and suggestions on how to present the content in the student edition and in the ancillary materials. Where applicable, materials include teacher guidance for the use of embedded technology to support and enhance student learning.
Indicator 3H
00/02
Materials contain a teacher's edition (in print or clearly distinguished/accessible as a teacher's edition in digital materials) that contains full, adult-level explanations and examples of the more advanced mathematics concepts in the lessons so that teachers can improve their own knowledge of the subject, as necessary.
Indicator 3I
00/02
Materials contain a teacher's edition (in print or clearly distinguished/accessible as a teacher's edition in digital materials) that explains the role of the specific grade-level mathematics in the context of the overall mathematics curriculum for kindergarten through grade twelve.
Indicator 3J
Read
Materials provide a list of lessons in the teacher's edition (in print or clearly distinguished/accessible as a teacher's edition in digital materials), cross-referencing the standards covered and providing an estimated instructional time for each lesson, chapter and unit (i.e., pacing guide).
Indicator 3K
Read
Materials contain strategies for informing parents or caregivers about the mathematics program and suggestions for how they can help support student progress and achievement.
Indicator 3L
Read
Materials contain explanations of the instructional approaches of the program and identification of the research-based strategies.

Criterion 3.3: Assessment

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Assessment: Materials offer teachers resources and tools to collect ongoing data about student progress on the Standards.
Indicator 3M
00/02
Materials provide strategies for gathering information about students' prior knowledge within and across grade levels.
Indicator 3N
00/02
Materials provide strategies for teachers to identify and address common student errors and misconceptions.
Indicator 3O
00/02
Materials provide opportunities for ongoing review and practice, with feedback, for students in learning both concepts and skills.
Indicator 3P
Read
Materials offer ongoing formative and summative assessments:
Indicator 3P.i
00/02
Assessments clearly denote which standards are being emphasized.
Indicator 3P.ii
00/02
Assessments include aligned rubrics and scoring guidelines that provide sufficient guidance to teachers for interpreting student performance and suggestions for follow-up.
Indicator 3Q
Read
Materials encourage students to monitor their own progress.

Criterion 3.4: Differentiation

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Differentiated instruction: Materials support teachers in differentiating instruction for diverse learners within and across grades.
Indicator 3R
00/02
Materials provide strategies to help teachers sequence or scaffold lessons so that the content is accessible to all learners.
Indicator 3S
00/02
Materials provide teachers with strategies for meeting the needs of a range of learners.
Indicator 3T
00/02
Materials embed tasks with multiple entry-points that can be solved using a variety of solution strategies or representations.
Indicator 3U
00/02
Materials suggest support, accommodations, and modifications for English Language Learners and other special populations that will support their regular and active participation in learning mathematics (e.g., modifying vocabulary words within word problems).
Indicator 3V
00/02
Materials provide opportunities for advanced students to investigate mathematics content at greater depth.
Indicator 3W
00/02
Materials provide a balanced portrayal of various demographic and personal characteristics.
Indicator 3X
Read
Materials provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of grouping strategies.
Indicator 3Y
Read
Materials encourage teachers to draw upon home language and culture to facilitate learning.

Criterion 3.5: Technology

NE = Not Eligible. Product did not meet the threshold for review.
NE
Effective technology use: Materials support effective use of technology to enhance student learning. Digital materials are accessible and available in multiple platforms.
Indicator 3AA
Read
Digital materials (either included as supplementary to a textbook or as part of a digital curriculum) are web-based and compatible with multiple internet browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.). In addition, materials are "platform neutral" (i.e., are compatible with multiple operating systems such as Windows and Apple and are not proprietary to any single platform) and allow the use of tablets and mobile devices.
Indicator 3AB
Read
Materials include opportunities to assess student mathematical understandings and knowledge of procedural skills using technology.
Indicator 3AC
Read
Materials can be easily customized for individual learners. i. Digital materials include opportunities for teachers to personalize learning for all students, using adaptive or other technological innovations. ii. Materials can be easily customized for local use. For example, materials may provide a range of lessons to draw from on a topic.
Indicator 3AD
Read
Materials include or reference technology that provides opportunities for teachers and/or students to collaborate with each other (e.g. websites, discussion groups, webinars, etc.).
Indicator 3Z
Read
Materials integrate technology such as interactive tools, virtual manipulatives/objects, and/or dynamic mathematics software in ways that engage students in the Mathematical Practices.