Mathematics

Welcome to Cartersville City School's Mathematics Education Page!

What is the goal of learning math @ Cartersville City Schools?

In Cartersville City Schools, the goal of teaching math is to help students build strong problem-solving skills and a solid understanding of math that they can use in everyday life, future education, and careers. Our math instruction focuses on:

Understanding Math: Students will learn key math skills, like how to work with numbers, solve problems, and understand shapes and patterns.

Solving Real-World Problems: Students are taught to use math to solve real-life problems, helping them think critically and make smart decisions.

Using Math in Life and Careers: The goal is to make sure students know how to apply math in different areas of life, such as planning budgets, understanding data, or pursuing careers in fields like science, technology, and engineering.

Preparing for the Future: Math education helps students get ready for higher education and careers that require math, making them more prepared for success.

Supporting All Students: The curriculum is designed to make sure every student, no matter their background, has the opportunity to succeed in math.

In short, we aim to give students the math skills they need to think critically, solve problems, and be ready for the future.

What can I expect my child to experience while learning math in Cartersville City Schools?

In Cartersville City Schools, we believe...

Our math classes are fun and hands-on! We use special tools to help you learn and understand math better. If you need extra help, we have special ways to teach you again until you get it. We check how you're doing often to make sure you're always improving.

Working together is important! We often work in small groups where you can share ideas and solve problems with friends. We give quick feedback to help you learn faster and build good relationships, so you feel supported.

Asking questions and using different ways to teach! This helps you think deeply and understand math better. We connect math to real-life situations to make it more interesting and relevant to you.

You are involved and empowered! We use different methods to teach and have high expectations for everyone. We believe in working together to create a community of lifelong learners. We're building a strong foundation in math, one student and teacher at a time!

What are the grade level expectations for math?

Kindergarten: Building a Strong Foundation in Numbers and Shapes

Skills & Concepts:

Recognize and write numbers 0-20
Count forward and backward from 0 to 20
Understand addition and subtraction within 10
Identify and name basic shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle)
Compare objects by size, length, and weight
Recognize and create patterns

Resources:

Khan Academy (Kindergarten Math): Provides videos and interactive exercises for counting and basic addition/subtraction.
Starfall: Offers fun games to help with number recognition and counting.
ABCmouse: Engaging activities for shapes, patterns, and basic math concepts.

Activities for Caretakers:

Counting Games: Count everyday objects around the house (e.g., toys, apples, buttons). Ask your child to count forwards and backwards.

Shape Hunt: Go on a "shape hunt" around the house or neighborhood and identify common shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.

Pattern Creation: Use objects like blocks, coins, or buttons to create simple patterns and ask your child to continue the pattern.

Number Stories: Create simple addition or subtraction problems using toys (e.g., “I have 3 cars, and I give you 2 more. How many cars do we have?”).

Kindergarten | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

1st Grade: Mastering Addition, Subtraction, and Basic Geometry

Skills & Concepts:

Add and subtract within 20
Understand place value (tens and ones)
Work with simple word problems
Identify and describe 2D shapes (squares, triangles, circles)
Measure lengths using non-standard units (e.g., paperclips)

Resources:

Khan Academy (1st Grade Math): Offers practice on addition, subtraction, and word problems.
IXL Math: Provides interactive practice with place value, addition, and subtraction.
Prodigy: A math game that includes content on shapes, addition, and subtraction.

Activities for Caretakers:

Number Line Jump: Create a number line on the floor with tape. Have your child jump to the correct number as you call out an addition or subtraction problem.

Shape Building: Use everyday objects like straws, sticks, or playdough to create 2D shapes. Discuss the number of sides and corners.

Addition/Subtraction Card Game: Use a deck of cards. Draw two cards, add or subtract them, and have your child practice the operation.

Estimation Challenge: Estimate the number of objects in a jar or container, then count to check the answer.

1st Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

2nd Grade: Strengthening Number Sense and Exploring Fractions

Skills & Concepts:

Add and subtract within 100
Understand basic fractions (1/2, 1/4)
Tell time to the nearest 5 minutes
Measure length using standard units (inches, feet)
Identify and describe 3D shapes

Resources:

Khan Academy (2nd Grade Math): Explains place value, addition, subtraction, and fractions.
SplashLearn: Provides interactive games for fraction concepts and addition/subtraction practice.
Math Playground: Offers engaging videos and games for understanding fractions and time.

Activities for Caretakers:

Fraction Snacks: Cut fruit (like apples or oranges) into halves or quarters. Show your child how to share or split food into parts.

Measurement Walk: Use a tape measure or ruler to measure the length of household objects. Ask your child to compare the lengths.

Math Bingo: Create a bingo card with simple addition or subtraction problems. As you call out the answers, your child marks them on their card.

Time Practice: Use an analog clock to practice telling time. Set the clock to different times and ask your child to read it.

2nd Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

3rd Grade: Multiplication, Division, and Fraction Foundations

Skills & Concepts:

Multiply and divide within 100
Understand fractions (parts of a whole)
Work with measurement (length, weight, volume)
Tell time to the nearest minute
Graph data on a line plot

Resources:

Khan Academy (3rd Grade Math): Covers multiplication, division, and fractions with interactive lessons.
Prodigy: A game that adapts to a student’s learning level and includes multiplication and division.
IXL Math: Includes practice on multiplication, division, and graphing data.

Activities for Caretakers:

Multiplication Flash Cards: Create flashcards with multiplication problems and practice them together.

DIY Fraction Puzzles: Cut paper into different fractions (half, quarter, etc.) and let your child match them to create whole shapes.

Group Division Game: Use objects like small toys or blocks. Divide them equally into groups to practice division.

Data Collection: Measure the height of different family members or the length of household items. Create a chart to compare measurements.

3rd Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

4th Grade: Expanding Operations and Understanding Decimals

Skills & Concepts:

Add and subtract large numbers (up to 1,000)
Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers
Understand decimals to the hundredths place
Work with measurement (time, length, and area)
Identify and classify geometric shapes

Resources:

Khan Academy (4th Grade Math): Offers detailed lessons on decimals, multiplication, and division.
SplashLearn: Interactive lessons and games for working with decimals and multi-digit numbers.
IXL Math: Provides targeted practice for decimal operations and geometry.

Activities for Caretakers:

Money Math: Use coins and play "store" where your child "pays" for items and calculates change.

Estimate the Total: Have your child estimate the total cost of a shopping list using prices from a grocery flyer.

Decimal Hopscotch: Create a hopscotch board with decimals (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 1.2) and have your child hop to the correct number.

Area Calculation: Use grid paper to calculate the area of different household objects (like books or tiles) by counting squares.

4th Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

5th Grade: Advanced Multiplication, Division, and Fraction Concepts

Skills & Concepts:

Multiply and divide large numbers
Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators
Understand decimal place value (up to thousandths)
Convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages
Solve word problems using the four operations

Resources:

Khan Academy (5th Grade Math): In-depth lessons on fractions, decimals, and operations with large numbers.
IXL Math: Practice problems for fractions, decimals, and word problems.
Math Playground: Engaging problem-solving activities for fractions and word problems.

Activities for Caretakers:

Recipe Math: Use a recipe and have your child double or halve it, requiring them to adjust fractions and measurements.

Estimation Game: Estimate the total price of a trip to the store using prices of items you would normally purchase.

Fraction War: Using cards with fractions, play a game of war where the larger fraction wins.

Area and Perimeter Challenge: Draw different shapes and have your child calculate the area and perimeter using a ruler.

5th Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

6th Grade: Ratios, Expressions, and Geometry Concepts

Skills & Concepts:

Understand ratios and rates
Solve one-variable equations and inequalities
Graph and analyze data using tables and graphs
Explore area and volume
Understand coordinate planes

Resources:

Khan Academy (6th Grade Math): Detailed lessons on ratios, algebraic expressions, and geometry.
IXL Math: Interactive practice for ratios, equations, and geometry.
Desmos: A graphing calculator tool and interactive activities for coordinate planes and geometry.

Activities for Caretakers:

Ratio Scavenger Hunt: Look for everyday examples of ratios (e.g., recipe proportions, or ratios of people to items in a room) and discuss them.

Geometry Scavenger Hunt: Hunt for objects in your home that fit certain geometric shapes, angles, or patterns.

Create Expressions: Use everyday items (like fruits or toys) to create expressions. For example, "3 apples + 2 apples = 5 apples."

Building with Shapes: Use blocks or cardboard to create 3D shapes and practice identifying their properties (faces, edges, and vertices).

6th Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

7th Grade: Proportions, Algebraic Thinking, and Data Analysis

Skills & Concepts:

Solve problems involving proportions
Simplify and solve algebraic expressions and equations
Work with integers and rational numbers
Analyze data (mean, median, mode)
Understand geometric transformations (reflection, rotation, dilation)

Resources:

Khan Academy (7th Grade Math): Offers comprehensive lessons on proportions, algebra, and data analysis.
IXL Math: Provides personalized practice on algebraic expressions and data analysis.
Math Antics: Video tutorials on simplifying expressions and working with proportions

Activities for Caretakers:

Proportion Problems with Recipes: Adjust a recipe to create a smaller or larger serving size and use proportions to help.

Data Collection: Collect data on something in your household (e.g., the number of steps from room to room or daily temperatures) and create graphs to analyze trends.

Solving Word Problems: Make up simple word problems (e.g., sharing candies or dividing tasks) and solve them together, showing how to set up equations.

Symmetry Art: Draw designs or cut out shapes that demonstrate symmetry to introduce algebraic thinking in a visual way.

7th Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

8th Grade: Algebraic Equations, Geometry, and Data Interpretation

Skills & Concepts:

Solve systems of linear equations
Work with exponents and square roots
Study transformations (translations, reflections, rotations)
Analyze data (scatter plots, line graphs)
Understand the Pythagorean theorem

Resources:

Khan Academy (8th Grade Math): Offers lessons on linear equations, exponents, and geometry.
IXL Math: Provides practice on solving equations and analyzing data.
Desmos: Interactive tools for graphing and visualizing algebraic equations and transformations.

Activities for Caretakers:

Solving Real-Life Problems: Use simple household scenarios to set up equations (e.g., buying multiple items at the store and figuring out the total cost).

Angle Measurement: Use a protractor or simple fold-and-tear techniques to practice measuring angles in household objects.

Coordinate Grid with Objects: Draw a large grid on a piece of paper or outside on the ground, and give your child coordinate pairs to plot items on it.

Geometry in Nature: Go outside and explore how geometry is in nature (e.g., symmetry in leaves, shapes of flowers, etc.).

8th Grade | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

9th Grade: Algebra I – Solving Equations and Exploring Functions

Skills & Concepts:

Solve linear equations and inequalities
Graph functions and interpret slope/intercept
Factor quadratic equations
Work with systems of equations
Understand basic function notation

Resources:

Khan Academy (Algebra I): Offers detailed lessons on equations, functions, and graphing.
Desmos: A graphing tool that helps visualize functions and equations.
IXL Math: Practice with solving equations, inequalities, and graphing.

Activities for Caretakers:

Algebra Scavenger Hunt: Look for examples of algebraic expressions or equations in everyday life (e.g., shopping discounts, recipes).

Function Machines: Use objects as "inputs" and "outputs" to illustrate how functions work by applying simple rules (e.g., "add 2," "subtract 3").

Solve Word Problems Together: Write real-life word problems that require solving linear equations (e.g., dividing chores or splitting a budget).

Graphing Practice: Draw simple linear graphs on paper, plotting points and connecting them to visualize how equations form a line.

High School | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

10th Grade: Geometry – Shapes, Angles, and Proofs

Skills & Concepts:

Work with angles, parallel lines, and triangles
Understand geometric proofs and reasoning
Calculate area, perimeter, and volume of 2D and 3D shapes
Work with coordinate geometry (distance and midpoint formulas)

Resources:

Khan Academy (Geometry): Provides tutorials on geometric concepts, proofs, and area/volume calculations.
IXL Math: Practice on geometry topics like angles, triangles, and volume.
GeoGebra: Interactive tool for exploring geometry concepts and proofs.

Activities for Caretakers:

Shape Construction: Use a ruler to construct geometric shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals) and discuss the properties of each.

Angle Measurement with Protractor: Practice measuring angles around the house or outside in the environment.

Proof Writing with Stories: Create short stories where your child has to "prove" why something is true based on geometric properties.

Build 3D Shapes: Use clay, toothpicks, or straws to create 3D shapes like cubes or pyramids and explore their faces and edges.

High School | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

11th Grade: Algebra II – Quadratics, Functions, and Advanced Graphing

Skills & Concepts:

Solve quadratic equations using various methods (factoring, completing the square, quadratic formula)
Work with functions and their properties
Graph polynomial and rational functions
Study exponential and logarithmic functions
Analyze sequences and series

Resources:

Khan Academy (Algebra II): Offers lessons on quadratic equations, functions, and advanced graphing.
Desmos: A graphing tool for visualizing polynomial, rational, and exponential functions.
IXL Math: Provides practice with quadratic equations, functions, and graphing.

Activities for Caretakers:

Graphing with Paper and Pencil: Use graph paper to sketch out quadratic functions, analyzing the vertex and direction of the parabola.

Real-Life Quadratic Problems: Discuss situations that involve quadratic equations, like projectile motion (e.g., a ball thrown in the air).

Polynomial Puzzles: Create "polynomial puzzles" where your child solves parts of a quadratic expression to find the solution.

Function Analysis: Make up real-life situations where different functions (linear, quadratic) are used, and ask your child to identify which type of function fits.

High School | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

12th Grade: Pre-Calculus, Statistics, and Advanced Math Skills

Skills & Concepts:

Study trigonometric functions and identities
Understand limits and continuity (introduction to calculus)
Analyze data using probability and statistics
Explore conic sections (parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas)
Work with matrices and determinants

Resources:

Khan Academy (Pre-Calculus): Lessons on trigonometry, limits, statistics, and conic sections.
Desmos: Graphing tools for trigonometric functions, conic sections, and more.
IXL Math: Offers practice on advanced topics like probability, matrices, and trigonometry.

Activities for Caretakers:

Probability Experiments: Conduct simple probability experiments (e.g., flipping a coin, rolling dice) and discuss outcomes.

Trigonometry in Real Life: Use string and a protractor to measure angles and calculate distances or heights (e.g., measuring the height of a tree using its shadow).

Create Sequences: Create real-life examples of sequences (e.g., number patterns, Fibonacci sequence) and have your child identify the next terms.

Data Interpretation: Collect and analyze data from the household (e.g., temperatures, daily steps) and discuss statistical concepts like mean, median, and mode.

High School | Make Mathematics Count, GA!

Understanding how we teach math can be difficult. We have a few resources that may help!

K-12 Mathematics Overview: Understanding the Big Picture

Help me understanding "this new math" my child is learning!

The following list is a video series from Graham Fletcher. He is a mathematics education expert in terms of explaining concepts in a way that makes sense. We think you will enjoy these!

Progression of Early Number & Counting (Fletcher)

Progression of a Number Line (K-2)

Progression of Subtraction with Regrouping

Progression of Base Ten Models

Algebraic Thinking & Representation

Progression of a Strip Model for Division

Progression of Fractions in Early Grades

Progression of Adding & Subtracting Fractions

Progression of Multiplying Fractions

My child is an English Language Learner. What supports will help them learn math?

My child has an IEP. What supports will help them with math?

Feel free to reach out to our Math Liaison, Bobbie Bruton. She is ready and willing to answer your questions, hear your ideas, or listen to your concerns!

Email Bobbie Bruton

Did you know Cartersville City Schools has a Math Advisory Council? Our council aims to improve math education for all students in Cartersville City Schools by facilitating vertical collaboration between students, teachers, and parents. Future plans include implementing effective teaching strategies and providing professional development opportunities.

Welcome to the MAC!

Our Mission

Meet the Members

Our Goal & Objectives

Thank you for visiting Cartersville City School's Math Page. As leaders and guides to instruction, we want our community to feel informed and empowered when it comes to understanding our mathematics instruction and our commitment to building mathematicians in every grade. Go Canes!