FAQ

MathLinks: Essentials addresses much of the major work of grades 5-8 without being a comprehensive course. This program consists of 6 modules. Each module has 3 consumable or digital student packets, and each packet takes about 10 typical class periods.

Yes. All Student Packets are sold separately to allow flexible design.

MathLinks: Essentials has been used in summer programs, intervention classes, and as supplemental materials in a wide variety of classrooms, including special education. Currently, many districts are using this program to help students catch up due to lost instructional time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yes. Starting in August 2020, a digital format will allow students to work remotely. Slide decks and lesson notes will help teachers guide lessons.

The “low floor-high ceiling” design of lessons allows teachers to differentiate instruction within lessons. For example, students may use a model to build a pattern and graph inputs and outputs, but questions that push student thinking about concepts related to slope-intercept form of a line are also included.

The same design principles used in MathLinks: Core, based on the work of experts such as Julie Sliva Spitzer, were incorporated into this program. Conceptual approaches are used to create meaning out of what students are seeing and structured workspace helps students stay focused.

As with MathLinks: Core, the same design principles, based on the SIOP model and other research-based work, were incorporated into the program. These include attention to lesson preparation, building background, comprehensible input, instructional strategies, student interaction, and review. For example, every lesson includes a clear content objective, vocabulary activity, and vocabulary list.

Two forms of a Quiz are provided for each packet, as well as a Problem Bank that can be used for assessment or extra practice.

No. But the Quizzes, Problem Bank, and Skill Boosters (short skill review routines) are editable.

Short videos that explain the program components and some of the routines are available on the secure website for teachers. But some professional development is recommended due to the unique format and non-routine approaches. We find that educators who attend professional development led by MathLinks authors report that they appreciate the time digging deeper into mathematics content and pedagogy, they benefit from collaborating with peers, and they feel better equipped to teach MathLinks lessons with fidelity.

Generally speaking, MathLinks: Essentials is geared more toward the RTI Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels because it is well-suited to be used in a typical-sized or reduced sized classroom setting. It can be used for a more personalized Tier 3 situation if desired.

MathLinks: Essentials is typically used to create summer courses, second-period intervention courses, and to supplement both regular education and special education courses.

Carefully chosen combinations of MathLinks: Essentials packets will address the major work of the middle grades (number, proportional reasoning, expressions and equations, and functions). While this will not address all of the content standards for any particular grade, this may be an appropriate plan to address the need to catch students up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, as desired, educators may supplement MathLinks: Essentials with more geometry and statistics from MathLinks: Core to round out a full course.

MathLinks: Essentials packets are commonly used for high school intervention and summer programs, particularly for students who struggle with, or are not ready for, a 9th grade mathematics course, whether in regular education or special education classes.