Province Unveils New Math Curriculum for Elementary Students

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 at 13:23

For the first time in 15 years, the Province of Ontario has updated the math curriculum for elementary students that will include financial literacy and coding.

ONTARIO - The Province of Ontario announced a new elementary math curriculum today for Elementary students in grades 1-8.

The curriculum was developed over two years in consultation with parents, math educators, academics and math education experts, and is designed to reverse a decade of declining math scores. Premier Doug Ford says it will be available to students across the province beginning in September 2020.

"I made a promise to parents that we would fix the broken education system we inherited, get back to basics, and teach our children the math fundamentals they need for lifelong success. Today, our government is delivering on that promise with the first-ever math curriculum in Canada for Grades 1-8 that includes the teaching of coding and financial literacy, both critical skills that will help our students prepare for and succeed in the modern world and in the modern workforce."

The new math curriculum for Grades 1-8 will:

- Build understanding of the value and use of money through mandatory financial literacy concepts;
- For the first time, teach coding or computer programming skills starting in Grade 1 to improve problem solving and fluency with technology, to prepare students for jobs of the future;
- Use relevant, current, and practical examples so students can connect math to everyday life;
- Put a focus on fundamental math concepts and skills, such as learning and recalling number facts.

The Ministry of Education is also changing how it makes curriculum available to better reflect how Ontarians consume information. The new math curriculum will be the first uploaded to the new Curriculum and Resources website, a digital space where anyone can access curriculum and learning resources. Vice Dean Research and Professor of Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa Dr. Christine Suurtamm says this platform will help parents, students, and teachers see connections between learning in different grades and subjects.

"Our research team provided an extensive background research report giving the Ministry of Education the most up-to-date research and analysis of other curricula. Ontario's new mathematics curriculum builds on what we know about student learning and how students develop an understanding of mathematics. It supports all students to be math learners with opportunities to learn foundational mathematics and engage in current topics. The goal is to support how students use math in the world today, and how they will use math to make informed decisions in the world ahead of them."

The last update to Ontario’s elementary math curriculum was in 2005. You can find more information online here.

You can also listen to the full statements from Premier Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce below: