At CORE we believe that professional development is the key, and we have a history of success that backs up our beliefs. Building on CORE's achievements in literacy training, CORE MATH has become one of the few professional development programs for grades 4-7 to meet the rigorous standards set by the state of California. Teachers in districts throughout California are currently deepening their understanding of important mathematics content while attending CORE MATH sessions. CORE MATH instructors guide workshop participants through discussions, problem-solving sessions and model lessons. Our workshops usually last 5 days which may be scheduled over several months or within a single week.
Instructors are also available for follow-up coaching and additional inservice.
In CORE MATH workshops, teachers not only become more aware of the mathematics underlying the California Mathematics Standards, but also of common learning pitfalls. They increase their understanding of causes and possible remedies for learning difficulties. CORE is currently making plans to offer its services and materials in the new California Professional Development Institutes for upper elementary mathematics teachers. An important component of CORE MATH is developing understanding of the key ideas that form connections among many learning goals. For example, discussion of the distributive law for multiplication of whole numbers leads to discussion of multiplication of decimals and also for algebraic expressions.