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Ask the Authors
- Who are your authors and what were their contributions to the program?
- What is new with Problem Solving in enVisionMATH Texas? How does it prepare students for Problem Solving on TAKS?
- How do I know the program works?
- How do you integrate literature into enVisionMATH Texas?
- How does enVisionMATH Texas help me with my TAKS scores?
- What strategies will help my ELL students?
- What do you offer for Intervention?
- What are your assessment options?
- Do I need special equipment to use the digital resources in my classroom?
- How much time does it take to teach a lesson?
- How do you ensure in-depth coverage of the TEKS?
- How do you address spiral review of the TEKS in enVisionMATH Texas?
- How do you develop Math TEKS vocabulary?
- Where do you teach Algebra to prepare students for TAKS?
- What Professional Development is embedded in enVisionMATH Texas?
- What kinds of games and songs that support the TEKS are included in enVisionMATH Texas?
- How do you address cross-curricular connections in enVisionMATH Texas?
The enVisionMATH Texas authors are: Dr. Randy Charles (Problem Solving and Program Conceptualization), Dr. Veronica Galván Carlan (Language of Math), Dr. Jim Cummins (ELL), Mary Cavanaugh (Primary Conceptual Development), Dinah Chancellor (Primary Conceptual Development), Dr. Nita Copley (Conceptual Development for Grades K-5), Dr. Warren Crown (Technology), Dr. Skip Fennell (Algebra), Stuart Murphy (Visual Learning), Jeanne Ramos (Algebra), Kay Sammons (Differentiated Instruction), Dr. Janie Schielack (Measurement and Geometry), Dr. Bill Tate (Research), Dr. Janet Cadwell (Conceptual Development for Grades 3-5), and Dr. John Van de Walle (Conceptual Development).
— Randy Charles What is new with Problem Solving in enVisionMATH Texas? How does it prepare students for Problem Solving on TAKS?
Research tells us that the most helpful strategy that students can use to help them understand how to solve a problem is the use of drawing pictures to represent the quantities and their relationships. In enVisionMATH Texas we have developed bar diagrams, beginning in Kindergarten, to help students represent the problem in such a way that they will be able to "see" how to solve the problem. The second thing that we have done is to teach skills and strategies together, instead of in isolation. The reality is that to solve a problem you need to use both a skill and a strategy, so keeping them separate has been more confusing than helpful to students’ success.
— Randy Charles How do I know the program works?
enVisionMATH Texas is based on scientific research on how children learn mathematics as well as on classroom-based evidence that validates proven reliability. There are four distinct phases of the research: Ongoing Research, Scientific Research Base, Formative Research and Summative Research.
— Bill Tate How do you integrate literature into enVisionMATH Texas?
In the primary grades, every topic begins with a story that was written to introduce the topic concept. These stories are interactive and are also provided as a coloring book. In addition, every topic in grades K-5 is correlated to a Literature book that has an accompanying Teacher’s Guide with leveled problem-solving activities and lesson plans. Students aren’t just reading books that happen to have numbers in them, but are doing real problem solving to see how the mathematics is applied in a motivating, real-world format.
— Stuart Murphy How does enVisionMATH Texas help me with my TAKS scores?
There are a number of ways enVisionMATH Texas helps improve TAKS scores. First, enVisionMATH Texas is organized by TEKS into comprehensive topics. This provides in-depth content coverage for understanding and therefore better test scores. Second, each lesson begins with TEKS/TAKS spiral review in two formats-TAKS multiple choice problems and a Problem of the Day. Third, there are only 120 lessons in all grades. This means that the book will be finished before TAKS so teachers won’t have to skip around to make sure the appropriate content is covered. After the test, there are 20 "Step Up" lessons that preview the content at the next grade. Fourth, problems throughout the instruction, practice, and problem solving are not only in TAKS format, but written with the same rigor as those problems on TAKS. Fifth, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills component provides Benchmark Tests to keep the students on track for the test and TAKS practice tests. Finally, the TEKS that have been taught each day are assessed at the end of every lesson and appropriate differentiation is provided at three different levels to make sure every student succeeds.
— Janie Schielack What strategies will help my ELL students?
ELL strategies have traditionally been found in separate components that have to be used in conjunction with the program. For the first time, enVisionMATH Texas embeds ELL strategies within every lesson. They are part of the instructional strategies in the daily Interactive Learning, in the daily assessment at the end of each lesson, and most importantly, in the Visual Learning Bridge at the top of every lesson that helps students, especially ELL students, "see the math" and understand the math. If additional support is needed, there is a separate ELL component, Interactive Lesson Support for English Language Learners.
— Jim Cummins What do you offer for Intervention?
Intervention in enVisionMATH Texas occurs before, during, and after each lesson and at the end of each topic. Before the lesson, the Review What You Know section assesses students’ prior knowledge and provides intervention in the Math Diagnosis and Intervention System for TEKS for those who need extra help. Within each lesson, guiding questions are provided for the teacher as ongoing assessment options to help check for understanding and provide differentiation opportunities. At the end of each lesson, a Quick Quiz assesses the students’ understanding and then the prescription chart guides the teacher in assigning the appropriate Differentiation to each student—Intervention, On Level, or Above Level. Finally, at the end of each topic, the Topic Test assesses students’ understanding and for those who need help, the appropriate intervention is prescribed. It’s definitely data-driven differentiation!
— Skip Fennell What are your assessment options?
Frequent progress monitoring of the TEKS is integral to enVisionMATH Texas. Assessment begins at the beginning of the year at the topic level. Assessment is ongoing during daily lessons and occurs at each lesson, as well as mid-year and at the end of the year. Assessments are supported with appropriate intervention. Frequent assessment and intervention opportunities are shown in the flowchart below. Assessments can also be done digitally. The Success Tracker program allows students to take TAKS-based tests online. Success Tracker scores the tests, generates a report, and prescribes individualized interventions in multiple modalities. It also generates student, class, and school reports.
— Warren Crown
The computer-based digital resources require a stand-alone computer capable of running CD-ROMs. Online digital resources require an Internet connection. In addition, digital components can be networked. All digital resources are Interactive Whiteboard Ready in case a teacher chooses to utilize this equipment in the mathematics classroom.
— Warren Crown How much time does it take to teach a lesson?
Lessons in enVisionMATH Texas are designed to be completed in a 45- to 60-minute math period. Lessons can be extended further through digital options or by extending learning center time.
— Kay Sammons How do you ensure in-depth coverage of the TEKS?
enVisionMATH Texas Topic Teacher’s Editions are organized and color-coded by TAKS strands to ensure that all the TEKS are taught in-depth. Every lesson addresses at least one TEKS. TEKS are revisited regularly through daily TEKS/TAKS spiral review and the TEKS-based Problem of the Day. enVisionMATH Texas also provides a TEKS Item Analysis for Diagnosis and Intervention which ties student test results to TEKS-based intervention from the Math Diagnosis and Intervention System for TEKS.
— Dinah Chancellor How do you address spiral review of the TEKS in enVisionMATH Texas?
Each day, the Teacher’s Edition directs teachers to the daily TEKS/TAKS spiral review and the TEKS Problem of the Day skills and concepts review. Every topic in grades K-2, and every other topic in grades 3-5, includes an extensive spiral review of the TEKS organized by TAKS strand.
— Dinah Chancellor How do you develop Math TEKS vocabulary?
"The Language of Math" pages in the beginning of the Topic Teacher’s Editions introduce key TEKS vocabulary that will be highlighted in the Student Edition and learned by students during the lessons. Strategies for using the Vocabulary Cards are provided along with relevant connections to students’ daily lives and mathematical experiences. Reading Comprehension and Problem Solving Strategies are presented to help guide students’ comprehension of word problems. A Problem-Solving Recording Sheet helps grades 3-5 students organize their thinking to better comprehend the problem. Written and Oral Language in Math Strategies are also shared with the teacher. The Daily Problem-Based Interactive Learning activity encourages students to share their thinking with each other and the teacher, furthering their development of TEKS mathematical vocabulary.
— Veronica Galván Carlan Where do you teach Algebra to prepare students for TAKS?
While there are separate topics (color-coded pink) specifically devoted to Algebra, you will find Algebra problems throughout the daily practice and problem solving to help students see the connections and applications to other concepts.
— Janet Caldwell What Professional Development is embedded in enVisionMATH Texas?
Professional Development is seamlessly integrated into enVisionMATH Texas. At the beginning of each topic, Math Background provides in-depth content coverage of the concepts being taught along with helpful related teaching tips. In the Teacher’s Edition notes for each lesson, there is lesson-specifi c information on the concept as well as research support. The guiding questions within the instruction not only help students understand, they provide another way to help the teacher check his/her own understanding.
— Nita Copley What kinds of games and songs that support the TEKS are included in enVisionMATH Texas?
Games to support the TEKS are abundant in enVisionMATH Texas. Math games are embedded into the Student Editions. In addition, every day teachers are provided with two Math Centers for Differentiated Instruction which use one of seven game formats. Animated Interactive Math Stories in Grades K-2 often integrate music and songs to motivate students as they learn math concepts. Digital components in SuccessNet, Success Tracker, and on the Math Games on disc and online provide further reinforcement of TEKS through engaging games and songs.
— Nita Copley How do you address cross-curricular connections in enVisionMATH Texas?
Texas Math Projects in every Topic Opener of enVisionMATH Texas link to Texas Social Studies, Geography, Music, Art, and Science information which is used to engage students in a meaningful mathematics project. Literature Libraries at each grade make social studies and multicultural connections for students. Mixed Problem Solving in grades 3-5 make explicit, problembased connections between Math, Art, Music, Social Studies, Science, and other disciplines.
— Mary Cavanagh
