On Today’s Episode: School Wide Norms for Math That You Need:

• Why every school should have schoolwide math norms
• Examples of math norms
• How we establish and USE these norms for math

Here’s the deal… we’re gonna break down school wide math norms because they are a problem or nonexistent in almost EVERY school.

I said what I said, School wide Math Norms don’t really exist in many schools. That’s because most schools are lacking a math vision. Schools may have a document somewhere that lives in the district office google drive or is posted in some PD, but that’s not really a vision. A vision LIVES within the people… a vision is kept alive by the community members who enact it. So, I said what I said… most schools don’t have school wide math norms because they don’t have a math vision.

However, on today’s show we are going to fix that. I hope you’ll take action on this episode. Share this with your leadership team or math department or grade level team and make some moves toward unifying your school community around a positive vision for mathematics! One book that forged the way in this is called “The Math Pact” inside the authors outline certain agreements that your school can and should make school wide. This is a valuable read if you’re passionate about this topic of school wide unification and change for the betterment of your math community.

Why should we have Schoolwide Math Norms?

Simply put to change the narrative. Math has a bad wrap, especially in elementary schools.
Am I right?

Reflect for a moment on the most recent initiatives in your building? Were they related to math? Most likely they were related to literacy, SEL, trauma informed instruction, equity, but rarely math.

Now, take a moment to think of the last Math PD or support you had in your school. Was it related to implementing the pacing guide or curriculum? Was it mandates or instructions related or was it related to effective teaching practices? Did the PD or support get you thinking about the mathematicians in your classroom and fostering their identity as mathematicians?

These types of PD and support for educators is very rare. I often have teachers seeking me out online and on social media because they’ve read a book and discovered the value of this work, but NO ONE is supporting them or showing them how.

To be honest with you, that’s why I started this work– the podcast, my coaching & consulting agency Chicago Math Group, and the on demand PD at StudentCenteredMath.com because I want teachers to feel supported in this work. 

We have to change the narrative on math in elementary schools.

Math has to be a priority and one that we are capable of delivering ambitious, inspiring and empowering instruction in that is full of inquiry, sense making, and rich discussions because that’s what mathematicians work really is. 

We have to do this because our students’ job will likely be related to or require mathematics competencies that students’ today are often lacking when they leave our schools. The most recent NAEP scores from 2022 show a decline in proficiency among our 4th graders and 8th graders. Things aren’t getting better… they’re getting worse. 

We have to ensure ALL adults embrace math as something they are capable of and use everyday. The adults in our building share the role models. So, if they are saying deprecating things to kids about their own math ability then that is the narrative some of our students will adopt. That is NOT what we want. Instead, we want every adult to believe in themselves as mathematicians just as they do about being a reader. Even if the 4th grade teacher isn’t a huge reader they don’t proclaim that to their students, instead they encourage students to build a diverse and healthy reading live where students read each night for fun and engage in independent reading int he classroom. This has to be the same approach for teachers with mathematics.

So, what are the school wide math norms we need to ensure these things happen? Here are a few of my favorites:

1. We play and explore in math
2. Math is for everyone
3. We share our math thinking
4. We expect to grapple
5. We work together to understand math

How do we establish and USE these school wide math norms? 

1. Establish a math vision with the entire staff – use beginning of the year PD time to establish a math vision. Go back to episode 109 for more about how to establish a math vision with your staff.
2. Make them visual and share them broadly-Once you have the norms you want start sharing them broadly. This is the same advice I give teachers for the math norms in their classrooms. It is critical to share your norms with students and use them everyday. Refer back to them, bring them to life! Point out when students are meeting them and reflect with students when they are broken. Do the same with your school staff.
3. Engage families with the goal and vision– Much of our students’ math mindset is determined at home. Bring families in to share the norms and vision. Help them understand the GOAL of the math program and show them the role they play in helping their student develop a positive math mindset that prepares them to engage in mathematical thinking at school.

School wide norms have the opportunity to get everyone on the same page of promoting positive math culture in your building. This is not just limited to classroom teachers and students, but including all staff, leadership, and families is vital. As you set out on a new year considering how you can rally the school around math positivity and joy can really shift the narrative. Our staff, students, and community deserves to have time and effort spent on developing a strong math community where students are empowered to be mathematicians. It’s time to flip the narrative and start making math a priority. A great first step is through school wide math norms!

Related Episode

109 – Getting Everyone on Board with “New Math”

Links Mentioned in This Episode

The Math Pact
8 Ways to Build Math Classroom Community
109: New Math: How to Get Everyone on Board

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

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