By Alyssa McMillan
Schoolcraft’s school board in April approved a new math curriculum for the elementary grades, a process that’s been in the works since December of 2023.
The new curriculum uses a product called “Illustrative Math (IM),” which is one of the top-rated math programs by EdReports, a non-profit organization dedicated to guiding educators to the best classroom instruction materials.
According to a presentation by assistant superintendent Matt Webster and elementary principal Sarah Howard, IM allows students to have engaging conversations about not only what they are doing, but how they are doing it, and provides time to work and learn independently, as well as in groups.
Over time, kids become better at understanding and discussing their own reasoning. They communicate well, and are open to questioning their thinking as they engage in “respectful mathematical critique.”
Schoolcraft staff members worked with the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) to make a model for the curriculum rollout and pilot adoption process. Teachers from kindergarten to fifth grade levels have been piloting the new curriculum since the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. Students in sixth grade and beyond have already been using the product recommended in the new curriculum.
Webster admitted that the shift from the current curriculum to IM may be difficult, but it will help kids to actively grasp their math learning, rather than passively sit there and receive it. Plans are already in place to acquire necessary materials and offer multiple dates for training teachers on how to use and understand the new products and curriculum.
Also at the school board meeting, the board approved a classroom technology update that will provide the Junior/Senior High campus with upgraded projectors for better classroom learning experiences. The updates will allow for the equipment in the school to be more like the higher technology standard in the elementary school.
Schoolcraft’s high school band was approved to travel to Disney World and the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida. The band goes on the trip once every four years. Students will get the opportunity to enjoy the parks, spend time with friends, and learn what it is like to be a Disney musician. The cost of the trip will be covered by band-lead fundraisers, student GoFundMe’s, and possibly grants. No money will come out of the school’s budget.
Also approved was the plan to refinish the floors of the Jr./Sr. High gymnasium and the Gone Boarding elective proposed during the April meeting.
