Grade 2 Program Overview
Building on years of success with the Spots for M.A.T.H. series for grades K and 1, we are happy to present the Spots for M.A.T.H. Grade 2 edition. Based on the instructional shifts for the Common Core and the Grade 2 Common Core Standards in mathematics, Spots for M.A.T.H Grade 2 enables students to seamlessly carry over math strategies and methodologies they learned in first grade.
Spots for M.A.T.H. Grade 2 is a complete program, carefully designed to build students’ expanding number sense and to strengthen their mathematical foundation. Special emphasis is placed on developing mental math and problem-solving strategies.
Mental math skills are built using the “make-a-ten” strategy through breaking apart a number into tens and ones. This strategy is developed through working with the intuitive number-line model. Although the number line is not a place-value model per se, it helps students to internalize the concept of place value as they make jumps of tens and jumps of ones, and as they practice jumping to the next ten and beyond. Developing mental math is a goal in and of itself, and it also serves as a stepping stone in the process of developing a deep understanding of the algorithmic procedure.
Problem-solving skills are developed and internalized using the Spots for Math models and methods to solve advanced story problems, which include start-unknown, change-unknown, and two-step story problems. Our “puzzle-piece model” and four-step method develops students’ aptitude for solving start-unknown and change-unknown word problems by concretizing in their minds an understanding of the relationships between quantities in a problem. Our two-step method gives students the tools to tackle two-step story problems. This approach develops higher-order thinking skills and algebraic reasoning.
All lessons are carefully scaffolded to build skills and concepts incrementally. Spiraled review of concepts and skills is provided throughout the book, and additional practice sheets are provided as well. Additionally, cumulative reviews at the end of chapter help students review strategies and skills that were covered earlier on.
Spots for M.A.T.H.’s mathematical content and models build on a broad approach, developed through each successive grade level, to provide a clear progression from basic models, such as Dot Cards, to more abstract base-ten models. This unique approach will better equip students with the skills they will need in order to succeed academically.
Spots for M.A.T.H. Grade 2 is a complete program, carefully designed to build students’ expanding number sense and to strengthen their mathematical foundation. Special emphasis is placed on developing mental math and problem-solving strategies.
Mental math skills are built using the “make-a-ten” strategy through breaking apart a number into tens and ones. This strategy is developed through working with the intuitive number-line model. Although the number line is not a place-value model per se, it helps students to internalize the concept of place value as they make jumps of tens and jumps of ones, and as they practice jumping to the next ten and beyond. Developing mental math is a goal in and of itself, and it also serves as a stepping stone in the process of developing a deep understanding of the algorithmic procedure.
Problem-solving skills are developed and internalized using the Spots for Math models and methods to solve advanced story problems, which include start-unknown, change-unknown, and two-step story problems. Our “puzzle-piece model” and four-step method develops students’ aptitude for solving start-unknown and change-unknown word problems by concretizing in their minds an understanding of the relationships between quantities in a problem. Our two-step method gives students the tools to tackle two-step story problems. This approach develops higher-order thinking skills and algebraic reasoning.
All lessons are carefully scaffolded to build skills and concepts incrementally. Spiraled review of concepts and skills is provided throughout the book, and additional practice sheets are provided as well. Additionally, cumulative reviews at the end of chapter help students review strategies and skills that were covered earlier on.
Spots for M.A.T.H.’s mathematical content and models build on a broad approach, developed through each successive grade level, to provide a clear progression from basic models, such as Dot Cards, to more abstract base-ten models. This unique approach will better equip students with the skills they will need in order to succeed academically.
Why Choose Spots for M.A.T.H. Grade 2?
- Strengthen and consolidate students mathematical foundation
- Reviews addition and subtraction facts through teen numbers using models and strategies learned in first grade
- Develops mental-math strategies with two-digit numbers, using the open-number-line model
- Empowers students to choose the most efficient approach for them: to solve problems either by applying mental math or by using the standard algorithm
- Provides a methodical approach for solving advanced story problems
- Expands on numbers sense and place value, to ensure a deep understanding of the base-ten number system
- Progresses and transitions smoothly from Dot Cards to base-ten models
- Incorporates ongoing review through practice sheets that follow the Spots for M.A.T.H. models and strategies, including:
- My Math Facts Practice Sheets
- Mental Math Practice Sheets
- Story Problem Practice Sheets
- Implementation support available through: Our training presentation, live webinars, and telephone training hotline. Teleconferences are offered for ongoing support.
