At Valley Park Elementary, Mrs. Julie Kulik and Mrs. Sarah Garlich, math specialists play a unique role in working alongside teachers to meet the needs of every student. Their job isn’t just about intervention, it’s also about providing enrichment opportunities that stretch students’ thinking and keeping students highly engaged in their learning.
The math team meets regularly with teachers to review data from district benchmarks and classroom assessments. Together, they identify both students who need extra support and those who are ready for additional challenges. This ensures instruction is purposeful, targeted and designed to keep learners actively involved.
One of the key strategies used in small group instruction is the Concrete - Representational - Abstract (CRA) model. Instead of memorizing steps, students work through a process that promotes deep understanding of mathematical concepts:
Concrete: Using math tools like counters, blocks or fraction tiles
Representational: Drawing pictures or visual models
Abstract: Applying their understanding to equations and problem solving
“This model requires students to think, talk and reason through the math problems. This keeps them focused and engaged every step of the way,” said Mrs. Garlich. “It’s more than just memorizing formulas, it keeps our students focused and engaged."
The team also supports the use of Building Thinking Classrooms, which is an instructional approach that emphasizes student centered learning. Rather than simply receiving information, students engage in "thinking tasks" that challenge them to collaborate with classmates, reason deeply about concepts, justify their thinking and apply strategies to new problems.
At Valley Park Elementary, math isn’t just about solving problems, it’s about building thinkers. By balancing support with enrichment and focusing on high academic engagement, math specialists help every child see themselves as capable mathematicians who can reason, problem-solve and stick with it even when it gets hard.
Click below to watch these mathematicians in action!