Components of Go Math!

The Go Math! program has many different components that build the series. Some of these components are more essential than others, but all can be beneficial in teaching to the different needs in your classroom. Through discussion with teachers across the division, we have seen a need to give an overview of the components available and give insight into making this program a sound teaching resource for you. Some of the items shared are necessary – and if you tried to teach without them in the past you were probably very frustrated. Others are suggested – yet we realize not every budget allows for that, and thankfully you have access to them in digital form whether you purchase them or not. Finally, some are entirely optional, and can be purchased and used at your discretion.

Components that every teacher should have access to include print versions of the student edition consumable textbooks, the teacher’s editions (one for each chapter), and a planning guide (one for each grade). Please view the video titled ‘Textbook and Teacher’s Editions’ for more information on how to effectively use these in the classroom.

ThinkCentral, an online resource to help organize your instructional planning, is another tool that all teachers should have access to. A computer and an internet connection are needed to get onto ThinkCentral. This webpage is the hub of all the digital resources that are available for the grades you teach. From simple copies of the textbooks and answer keys to more advanced functions such as using the material on a SmartBoard, ThinkCentral has it all. Not all of the resources will be used by you, and that is alright. However, it is important to know what is found on this site and how to access the items. To watch a video that shows you how to log-in and how to access the materials, CLICK HERE to access a quick, tutorial on how to use ThinkCentral by HMH Math.

One thing that you do not want to miss in ThinkCentral is the ePlanner. This indispensable tool will make your planning a much smoother process, saving you precious time. Take a quick look at the video title ‘ePlanner’ to learn more.

Although the components listed above are the primary ones you will use, there are others that you might find useful for you. All of the books listed below can be purchased in print version or can be accessed for free from ThinkCentral.

The Assessment Guide is where you will find all of the master copies of the tests. There are a couple of important things to note with the Assessment Guide: You will find a couple different types of tests. Chapter tests, both multiple choice and short answer versions, can be found in the front part of the book. Each chapter test also comes with a check sheet that will correlate the questions on the test to the Common Core State Standards, which are closely aligned to our NAD Math Standards. These can help you ensure mastery of the standards. The final part of the book contains performance based assessments, generally broken into groups of three to four chapters. These not only check if the student can do the computation involved in the problems, but also look deeper in their thought process as to how they solved the problem. This is an additional assessment option that you might find valuable in your classroom. Please note the answer keys to any of the tests in the Assessment Guide are not found in the book. You can get the answer key for Test Version A of any chapter test from the correlating Teacher’s Edition, and the rest of the answer keys (for Test Version B or performance based assessments) can be found in the Teacher’s Edition of the Assessment Guide located on ThinkCentral. You may print out these answer keys ahead of time if that makes it easier for you.

The RTI Strategy Book aides the teacher in knowing how to meet the needs of students who are on the different tier levels within the Response-to-Intervention model. Response-to-Intervention is our first line of defense in meeting the needs of students who are struggling beyond just needing more practice time or lacking pre-requisite skills. Think of this book as your guide to differentiated instruction for the struggling learner. Each lesson provides hands-on instruction in a different way than that which was presented in the book, as well as additional practice.

Books that you are probably more familiar with are the Reteach Book and the Enrich Book. The Reteach Book provides more examples of the skill being taught that day while the Enrich Book offers a challenge for those who desire it, still promoting the standard that is being targeted. As with the RTI Strategy Book, these books are great resources for differentiated instruction in your classroom.

You know what? It doesn’t stop there. From literary readers and Grab-n-Go centers to individual math manipulative packs, there is a wide array of tools that can be added to your math instruction. We realize that you are limited by time and resources, and we want to make it clear that although these products can be a positive addition to your instructional time, they are in no way essential to have a well rounded math program. Many of us have found that by having the digital resources of ThinkCentral and the print versions of the teachers’ guides and student textbooks, we have more than enough to provide an all-around, instructionally sound program in our classrooms. Find what works for you, and go for that. And remember, YOU are the driving force in your teaching, and these materials are merely tools to help provide that quality, Seventh-day Adventist Christian education that you are providing for our children.