Common Core Math In The K-8 Classroom: Results from a National Teacher Survey
Based on a survey of elementary and middle school teachers, the authors of this report investigate whether teachers have changed what and how they teach mathematics as represented in the Common Core State Standards. The authors also analyze whether teachers believe that students’ mathematics understanding and skills have improved as a result. The study has three research questions.
— “To what extent does mathematics instruction actually reflect the CCSS-M?
— In which ways are teachers changing their instructional practices to implement the CCSS-M?
— What impact do teachers think the CCSS-M are having on students’ mathematical preparation?”
The authors found that most elementary and middle school teachers who completed the survey said that they have changed their instruction to reflect the CCSS-M. For example, teachers often reported that they are teaching students multiple ways of solving the same problem. However, some of these changes have led to high levels of frustration for both students and parents. Teachers generally think that students are better developing “number sense” but at the possible unintended reduction in their ability to perform simple calculations.