When Ready...Allow Them to Learn

Over the course of the last few weeks there have been a few conversations on math readiness.  I wanted to share a bit of perspective.  In reading when a child is ready to progress to the next reading level, or ready to take on harder context, we allow them.  We encourage students to continue down the continuum of reading progress at an individualized or even differentiated pace.  We need to accept and encourage that same practice in math.  As students are ready to explore further strategies for computation, we shall allow them to explore and learn.  Please remember that the traditional method is often introduced later in our content and maybe even at the next grade level.  But when a student is showing the ability to master the strategies in their grade level common core standards, they may be encouraged to continue on and explore the next strategy.  I encourage us all to see math as a continuum rather than a set of grade level only standards, similar to reading.