Sub Navigation

Top

Sharon Wells Math Curriculum

Elementary Students at Leakey ISD receive a sound math foundation.

For the past 3 years, Leakey ISD has an adopted math curriculum for students in grades 2-5.  The Sharon Wells Curriculum has proven to be a very effective and comprehensive curriculum.  The curriculum has been written and updated for the past 15 years by Sharon Wells.

What is the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum?

• A math curriculum designed specifically for Texas educators with step-by-step guidelines to implement in the classroom
• A mathematics curriculum for grades 2 - 5 that is aligned to the TEKS and addresses the TAKS
• A mathematics curriculum that is concept based
• A mathematics curriculum that is geared towards the development of student problem solving
• A mathematics curriculum that provides opportunities for students to actively engage in learning
• A mathematics curriculum that offers students challenges, stimulation, and support
• A mathematics curriculum that prepares students for an ever-evolving future

Curriculum Implementation

• Second, third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers receive in-service in their grade's specific curriculum which is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and addresses tested areas as assessed by the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). All grade levels include a focus on problem-solving strategies, basic facts, skills, review activities, and the use of manipulative materials in a problem-solving format to teach content knowledge.
• Teachers attend workshops which are limited to 50 participants per day for each specific grade level. It is highly recommended that special education and content mastery teachers also attend the workshops.
• Each grade level receives a separate 5 1⁄2-hour in-service for each six weeks of instruction. These in-services are presented on scheduled days prior to each new six weeks.

Materials Provided

• Each contract receives a master curriculum packet to be printed per teacher each six weeks. This packet contains a sequential guide for each six weeks which includes teacher instructions with a materials list, all necessary blackline masters, student assessments, TAKS-formatted practice questions, and a classroom profile sheet for tracking student progress.

• All student materials are available in Spanish.

Continuing Education

• Sharon Wells Consulting, Inc. is approved by the State Board for Educator Certification as a Provider of Continuing Professional Development (Provider #500252). Teachers receive continuing education hours for all workshops attended.

Scope and Sequence

Each six weeks the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum begins with a detailed Scope and Sequence for the specified six weeks. All activities and units are documented in a time line with TAKS and TEKS. Also included are daily schedules for Problem Solving, Basic Facts (Grades 2 - 4), Skills (Grades 2 - 5), Review (Grade 5), and Concept Units.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is an integral part of the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum. A problem solving section written in TAKS format is included for grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 each six weeks.

Problem solving is modeled by the teacher for 15 minutes Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks of each six weeks. These problems are entirely teacher directed, using the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum's 4-step method of problem solving. All problems for this segment are available in English or Spanish.

Basic Facts, Grades 2 - 4

One of the emphasized skills in the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum in grades 2, 3, and 4 is the mastering of basic facts as mandated by the TEKS, including understanding the properties involved and the identification and usage of fact families. To facilitate the mastery of these skills, Basic Facts is a daily 15-minute segment of mathematics class, Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks of each six weeks. Activities in English or Spanish are included for this segment. Basic Facts are tested at the end of each week.

Skills, Grades 2 - 5

To connect to prior learning, practice new skills, or to apply newly learned strategies, the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum has a daily 15-minute Skills segment Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks of each six weeks. Activities in English or Spanish are included for this segment.

Review, Grade 5

In the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum for Grade 5, mathematical skills are reviewed for 15 minutes Monday - Thursday for 5 weeks of each six weeks. Activities in English or Spanish are included for this segment.

Concept Unit

The goal of the Sharon Wells Mathematics Curriculum is to develop mathematically secure students who are able to apply mathematical principles in problem-solving situations. Concept development lessons are written according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for each specific grade level emphasizing basic understandings in number, operation, and quantitative reasoning; patterns, relationships, and algebraic thinking; geometry and spatial reasoning; concepts and the use of measurement; probability and statistics; and mathematical processes and tools.

Each six weeks contains 5 Concept Units. The units include scripted lesson plans with step-by-step instruction. Blackline masters in English or Spanish are included.