Math Lessons
Readtopia Math Lessons are designed to continue the direct instruction framework of Anchor, Read, Apply that has been established throughout all Readtopia lessons. The mathematics domains are aligned with college and career readiness standards. These domains are frequently included on standardized tests given to students who take the alternate assessment.
ALL Math lessons are connected to the unit's anchor literature. Each domain links with a topic, character, or object from the text to keep students engaged, making connections to the anchor literature and math domains across multiple lesson types.
Both the Upper Elementary and Middle/High School units have been developed specifically for the students at those grade levels. Integrated math lessons connect basic mathematical concepts with thematic unit content.
Leveled lessons allow for easy differentiation to meet the wide range of student needs within your classroom. You will notice some differences in the size of images, the complexity of the directions, and the number of problems on each page offered at each level. Students who may struggle to work at one level across all domains can easily be offered the most appropriate level of work for each domain to help to build confidence and ensure success.
Use the Readtopia Math Placement Resources to determine the most appropriate level for each student.
Upper Elementary units address eight domains. Six of the eight domains for each unit are chosen based on what fits best with the anchor literature story. Lessons are differentiated into four levels and allow you to support the unique needs of each student.
- Operations & Algebraic Thinking
- Numbers & Operations in Base Ten
- Numbers & Operations in Fractions
- Time
- Money
- Geometry
- Addition
- Subtraction
Middle/High School units also address eight domains. Just as with the Upper Elementary units, six domains are selected for each unit based on what fits with the anchor literature story. Middle/High School lessons are differentiated into six levels, since they are designed to reach a broader range of grade levels.
- Number Sense
- Expressions & Equations
- Time
- Money
- Geometry
- Statistics & Probability
- Multiplication
- Division
All Emergent units address classrooms that consist of only emergent and early transitional level students. These units use the same domains as the Middle/High School units but are differentiated at three levels rather than six.
Every math domain is presented through multiple lessons and instructional strategies over several days. Students are instructed through Video/Vocabulary, Hands-On Application, and Independent Practice lessons. At the end of the unit, students complete a Unit Assessment that addresses all six domains.
Video/Vocabulary whole group lessons introduce students to key vocabulary terms and concepts through the use of graphic illustrations and text. After viewing the video, students answer questions based on the content. These discussion questions are designed to be brief and engage students in approximately five minutes of conversation. Discussion questions are followed by vocabulary instruction, during which students review two-to-three vocabulary words and their definitions. Finally, students are engaged in a short Summary Quiz vocabulary game to review math terms from the current and previous domains.
Hands-On Application lessons begin with a whole group activity. Teachers show the video from the previous lesson and demonstrate the skill taught. Then, students are divided into small groups based on their knowledge level within the domain. There can be up to four leveled groups depending on the skill levels of your students. Within their small groups, students work with a knowledgeable adult to complete an activity that allows them to practice skills in a hands-on capacity. The lesson ends with all groups coming together for a whole group discussion.
Independent Practice lessons are designed to give students the opportunity to practice independent application of the skills they have learned in the Video and Hands-On Application lessons. Students are presented with practice math problems through written text and graphic support. These lessons continue to be differentiated to ensure that each student is able to practice these skills independently and successfully.
Unit Assessments are administered at the end of each unit, just as they are within the ELA portion of Readtopia. At the end of a unit, students take a cumulative assessment including math problems from each of the six domains presented in the unit. The Unit Assessment is designed to match the layout of the Independent Practice lessons. For teachers who need to show pre/post data, the Unit Assessment can be given at the beginning of a unit as a way to pre-test your students.