SMART Essential Focus Elements (EFE) Resource Guides for Mathematics and Science
Click below to access the most current versions of Essential Focus Elements (EFE) for Mathematics Instruction (revised January 2007) and Essential Focus Elements for Science Instruction (released March 2007).
Essential Focus Elements (EFE) Resource Guide for Mathematics
(Revised January 2007)
Cover
Introduction
Kindergarten
Grade 1 Grade 7
Grade 2 Grade 8
Grade 3 Grade 9
Grade 4 Grade 10
Grade 5 Grade 11
Grade 6 Grade 12
Essential Focus Elements (EFE) Resource Guide for Science
(March 2007)
Cover
Introduction
Kindergarten
Grade 1 Grade 7
Grade 2 Grade 8
Grade 3 Grade 9
Grade 4 Grade 10
Grade 5 Grade 11
Grade 6 Grade 12
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In the course of crafting SMART's 2006-2012 strategic plan, the consortium's Management Council recommended that SMART take the lead in developing resources that would help teachers more effectively incorporate the Ohio Content Standards for mathematics and science into their instructional planning, maximize student learning at each grade level, and satisfy state requirements. This interest has also surfaced in SMART's work with principals in the Lenses on Learning Leadership Institute (for mathematics) and with PROM/SE district contacts. SMART’s superintendents and associates recommended that SMART develop a process to identify the “Essential Focus Elements (EFEs) within the Ohio Academic Content Standards for mathematics and science.
Responding to this charge, the SMART staff enlisted the help of representatives from its member school districts, as well as PROM/SE Associates, to create a document that focuses on the “big ideas at each grade level, eliminates repetition wherever possible, and coherently demonstrates the development of topics from simple to complex.
The SMART Essential Focus Elements (EFE) for Mathematics Instruction and Essential Focus Elements (EFE) for Science Instruction help K-12 teachers creatively and flexibly implement the Ohio Academic Content Standards. The EFEs target the big ideas for each grade level, identify the skills associated with these concepts, and offer tips for instruction. The guides includes a review of the mathematics and science processes, respectively, as well as a listing of great websites that can serve as resources for content knowledge and lesson/assessment design.
The EFE for mathematics is in line with the newly-released NCTM Curriculum Focal Points, but specific to Ohio standards. SMART hopes that the Essential Focus Elements resource guides will inspire teachers to share their expertise across the consortium and that it will serve as a vehicle for stimulating curricular discussions focusing on creating a clear, coherent curriculum.
Help Wanted!
SMART welcomes your feedback and suggestions for expanding the "Tips and Lesson Plans" portion of the resource guides.
For more information about the Essential Focus Element content and process, contact Anna Maria Tabernik, Ph.D. (Tab), SMART Director of Professional Development, at (216) 916-6434, 0r AnnaMaria.Tabernik@ideastream.org.