Our Teaching Method – Direct Instruction – Math
At Firefly Education, we teach the full range of Direct Instruction programs. Each program is built around the core Direct Instruction principles of consistent language, carefully sequenced material, highly individualized delivery, and continuous assessment and skillful correction. The following are selected samples of Direct Instruction math programs that we teach, all of which are available for our online teaching service:
Connecting Math Concepts
Connecting Math Concepts provides systematic, intensive instruction to teach students to connect skills and “big idea” concepts in math. The program combines facts, procedures, conceptual understanding, applications, and the development of problem solving to enable students to achieve mastery of core mathematic skills. Explicit strategies that incorporate oral and written responses are taught to build a strong foundation of basic skills, enabling students to master difficult ideas such as ratios, proportions, probability, functions, and data analysis. The mystery is taken out of math by teaching students how to discover and use math patterns. Key concepts are introduced clearly and incrementally and extended into subsequent lessons, providing the time students need to learn, process, and build a deep understanding. Students move forward in small steps, learn many topics in each lesson, and assimilate all concepts through use and continuous review. Detailed explanations and guided practice move students toward independent work, ensuring that students gain success and confidence as capable problem solvers who are able to think and communicate mathematically. Students learn in less time, remember more, and develop a depth of understanding needed for advanced mathematics.
Corrective Mathematics
Corrective Mathematics provides intensive support in mathematics through seven strategic modules – Addition; Subtraction; Multiplication; Division; Basic Fractions; Fractions, Decimals, and Percents; and Ratios and Equations. Problematic areas are targeted and addressed in a systematic way to ensure students will learn to work mathematical problems accurately and confidently. Teacher-directed instruction focuses on critical skills and concepts which struggling students often fail to grasp. The program teaches mathematics skills, rules, and strategies efficiently and effectively, by focusing on core content and breaking this content into a series of small conceptual steps and embedded skills. Students learn how to solve a wide variety of problem solving story types by translating word problems into numerical statements, determining the operation needed for the problem, and following a step by step process to correctly solve the problem. Fact practice and timed tests help students develop a high level of fluency in mathematics.
