Practices Level A

(CCSS Grades K-1 / Beginning ABE Literacy)

At Level A, students are engaging with mathematics at the most basic, fundamental level. Here, the focus is on conceptual understanding of whole numbers as representations of quantities and of concepts such as such as length as well as on the operations addition and subtraction.

Instructional activities should include:

• Challenging students to represent and recognize whole number quantities. These activities should include drawing, hands-on manipulation of objects, discussion, and writing numbers.
• Recognizing addition and subtraction with whole numbers. This should include developing addition or subtraction equations given an illustration or manipulative and vice versa. It should also include introducing students to the use of variable representation in addition and subtraction.
• Engaging in discussions around addition and subtraction based on mathematical equations, illustrations, and hands-on manipulatives. These discussions include possible starting points for problem solving, basic analysis to make sense of the problem, and an understanding of the quantities involved. Activities should include representing length using addition and subtraction.
• Recognizing common errors in mathematical processes in addition or subtraction mathematical equations, illustrations, and hands-on manipulatives.

Recognizing, evaluating, and comparing basic geometric shapes including lines, circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles.