Implementation of the 2021 Mathematics Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOLs) has heightened the need for more mathematics resources that can be used by teachers who utilize these standards. Guidance is needed to answer questions such as: 1) What background knowledge is needed in order to effectively teach each math concept? 2) What should students know, understand, and be able to do to demonstrate mastery of each VESOL Math standard? What is a good lesson for a given math standard? What should assessment look like for a given standard?
Well, an outstanding team of teachers and math specialists from Regions 2 and 3 worked perseveringly this past year to quell concerns about teaching the Mathematics VESOLs by creating a collection of resources that can be used for planning and instruction.
VESOL Mathematics Curriculum Framework Documents
The team of Math Specialists and Math Leaders have developed Mathematics VESOL Curriculum Framework documents for Grades 3-High School and each contains the following for all standards:
Conceptual Alignment: Each VESOL standard lists the corresponding grade level equivalent SOL as well as the conceptually aligned SOL. The conceptually aligned SOL will assist teachers with identifying resources that best match the level of the concept in the standard.
Understanding the Standard: This section includes mathematical content and key concepts that assist teachers in planning standards-focused instruction. The statements may provide definitions, explanations, examples, and information regarding connections within and between grade level(s)/course(s).
Essential Knowledge and Skills: This section provides a detailed expansion of the mathematics knowledge and skills that each student should know and be able to demonstrate. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of student expectations.
Instructional Resources: Formative assessments (Quick Checks), lesson plans (Mathematics Instructional Plans), and scaffolded lessons (Bridging for Math Strength) have been identified for each VESOL math standard and are hyperlinked within the documents.
Lesson Plans
In addition, the team of teachers worked together to develop over 40 lesson plans aligned with the Grade 3-High School mathematics VESOLs. A sneak peek at one of the lesson plans is below.
![VESOL Mathematics Instructional Plan – Grade HS Exponents Strand: Algebra - Expressions and Operations Topic: Identify equivalent expressions and evaluate expressions using powers 1 - 3. VESOL: M-HS 5 (SOL A.2 a) The student will: Identify equivalent expressions and evaluate expressions using powers 1 -3. Materials: ● 2 sided markers ● 130 Number Sheet (attached) ● Toytheater.com (120 Number Chart) ● Number cards 1-130 ● Vocabulary: powers, base, exponent, squared, cubed, equivalent, evaluate, expressions, addition, multiplication Student/Teacher Actions: What should students be doing? What should teachers be doing? 1. Show a video about exponents: ( https://youtu.be/zdu8dII7zRE or https://youtu.be/nuDz3O3yZOA ) 2. Explain that like multiplications tell us to use repeated addition, exponents tell us to use repeated multiplication. Also explain that any number to the first power is the same as that number. (ex: 71 = 7, 151 = 15) 3. Explain that the exponent tells us how many times to multiply the base to itself (ex:23 = 2x2x2 ) 4. Show students 2 problems : 4x2 and 42 Show the students how to work through these problems using both pictures and a calculator to determine which problem has the larger number. 5. Have students work through several problems together with the teacher. 6. Have students determine which equation is the same as the exponent. (ex: 43 [ 4x4x4] or [4x3] or [3+3+3+3]](https://ttac.odu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Exponents.jpg)
Would you like to access all of these resources?
To access all of the new Math VESOL resources available from TTAC-ODU, click the button below, fill out the registration form, and you will be provided the website to access Math VESOL Curriculum Framework documents, lesson plans, and more!
The VESOL Mathematics Team
Special thanks to the following Math Specialists/Math Leaders and teachers for working diligently on this project:
Curriculum Framework Team
| Grade: | Specialist(s): |
| 3rd | Michelle Thompson, Portsmouth Public Schools Jennifer Hughes, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
| 4th | Bernita Johnson, Portsmouth Public Schools Marie Giles, Hampton City Public Schools |
| 5th | Amira Makky, Virginia Beach Public Schools Marlena Parra, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
| 6th | Leslie Strachan-Williams, Hampton City Public Schools Kristen Allen, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
| 7th | Latoya Hurdle-Lee, Portsmouth Public Schools |
| 8th | Beth Burnap, Caroline County Public Schools |
| High School | Megan Allen, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
Lesson Plan Team
| Grade: | Teacher(s): |
| 3rd | Gwendolyn Graham, Portsmouth Public Schools Jenna Ramsay, Virginia Beach Public Schools Hannah Davis, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
| 4th | Alexandra Lomberk, Virginia Beach Public Schools Lisa Compton |
| 5th | Suzanne Gilbert, Accomack County Public Schools Elizabeth Maul, Virginia Beach Public Schools |
| 6th | Joy Tanner, Hampton City Public Schools Lisa Compton |
| 7th | Laura Giddens, Virginia Beach Public Schools Joy Tanner, Hampton City Public Schools |
| 8th | Leslie Wolfe, Suffolk Public Schools |
| High School | Robin Stubbs, Hampton City Public Schools |
In search of literacy or science VESOL resources? Check out Dr. Daniel Beigun’s most recent Intellectual Disabilities blog post for more lesson ideas!
