3 BIG ideas to get started with Eureka Math

Maybe last year, you ended your Eureka Math year on a great note. 

Maybe you ended up with a lot of places you want to go back and tweak.

Maybe this is your first year ever using Eureka Math and you are just about to hit the ground running for the first time. 

​Remember, whatever place you are currently in, there is a brand new year ahead to make the most of Eureka Math for your students.
 
Think about the big parts of this math program to help you get a grip on where you are and if you are ready to add more in, or keep working at the basics until you find them mastered.  
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To get started, read your resource materials first.  This will help you take a step back and look at the program with a wide lens.  This is such a helpful strategy.  When you see the big picture and know where you are going first, then it is  easy to go back in and adjust the details.
 
It may seem like there are so many materials to go through, but to get a firm start, just focus on a few big picture concepts that will help you throughout the entire Eureka Math program.  These are concepts that are not just taught in isolation, but can be filtered into your classroom continuously.  Think of ways to create math as a part of your classroom culture rather than just during the math lesson time.
 

Here are some BIG ideas to focus on to help you get started with Eureka Math:
 
The Story of Units
 
One of the main and overarching topics is The Story of Units.  This is when the students learn basic number sense.  Students need to learn how to manipulate numbers in a way that is efficient and will help them through future units.  Students also need to learn the place value of numbers.  This will help them to compose and decompose numbers.  The foundational lessons and activities that you do in this module will help your students know what to do in future lessons.  They will rely on these skills and will be enhancing them in future Eureka Math lessons.
 
Vocabulary
 
Spend some time getting familiar with the vocabulary you will need in your upcoming math topics.  This will help you be prepared for how to introduce the words to your students.  Plan ahead so you can immerse your students into the vocabulary around the classroom.  Create charts and posters to help students remember what the key vocabulary words mean.  It is also important to look ahead to know which words will be reused again in future lessons.  This will help you to know which word posters and charts you will need again or may want to add on to.

It is also helpful while you are still starting your classroom set up to designate a bulletin board or a section of the room to create a math word wall.  As you introduce new vocabulary words, you can add them to the word wall for continuous review.  Encourage students to use the word wall as a resource to help the vocabulary words make strong meaning to them. Encourage students to use these vocabulary words regularly when engaged in math conversations.
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Fluency
 
Fact fluency is the backbone of Eureka Math.  The students will become affluent in making math calculations mentally using a variety of strategies.  You can support your students steadily with these skills by practicing addition and subtraction facts regularly.  This foundation will give them the base to become affluent with multiplication and division facts after that.  Students will use a variety of strategies to develop these skills.  Provide students opportunities to see number relationships to make quick connections.  Create activities to give students as much fact fluency practice as you can.  This will help them with all of their math skills and concepts.
 
It is helpful in the very beginning to collect a fact fluency baseline from your students. This will help you decide where to target your class to help boost fluency skills.

Ready to Start
 
You are ready to start a brand new year of Eureka Math! You have organized, planned, and thought of ways to support students.  This is going to be your best year of math teaching yet!  
 
Here are some helpful tips to get started:
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• Preview your curriculum resources
• Create a classroom of wall print that fosters Eureka Math vocabulary
• Provide a variety of opportunities for students to practice fact fluency

 
Giving your students this firm foundation will provide them with success throughout the entire year.