The objective of this essay is to compare the developmental appropriateness of the NCTM Principle and Standards document and MAP’s Foundation of Success document for students at the fifth grade level.
The key functions of this paper are a description of Piaget’s Cognitive Theory of Learning and a description of the learning process in adults and children. There is also a brief explanation of the Concrete Operational stage, which is the developmental stage for students at the fifth grade level. Piaget’s description of the learning process laid the foundations for the constructivist approach towards learning and teaching. Based upon this approach, students are encouraged to develop their own understanding through hands-on activities, explorations, and investigations. Students use their prior experience and knowledge to develop new concepts and ideas.
In order to develop a well-rounded school mathematics program the NCTM document provides guidelines based on six Principles and ten Standards. The Principles describe particular features of high-quality mathematics education. The Standards describe the mathematical content and processes that students should learn. “Together, the Principles and Standards constitute a vision to guide educators as they strive for the continual improvement of mathematics education in classrooms, schools, and educational systems.” ( NCTM Principle and Standards 15, 2000)
The MAP’s Foundation of Success document was put together as a result of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (1995) Due to the results that showed the low performance of U.S. students in mathematics in comparison to their peers around the world, this document aims to enhance and upgrade the middle school mathematics curriculum.
These cognitive theory principles and the goals of both the above mentioned documents a are used to compare the goals, objectives, standards and activities that are presented in the NCTM Principle and Standards for the third to fifth grade level and in the MAP’s Foundation of Success document.
Achieve
Inc. Mathematics Achievement Partnership. (2001) Foundations for success mathematics for
the middle grades.