Communicator Products
A complete math program for grades 3-6 that focuses on:
- Hands-on, discovery-based learning
- Active student participation
- Dynamic support for parents
- Unparalleled computational fluency
A Constructivist Program that Traditionalists Will Love!
Communicator Mathematics® is a comprehensive research and standards based constructivist mathematics program for Grades 3 through 6 developed by Paul Lawrence and published by LLTeach Inc. It is currently being used in a number of school districts throughout the country.
Our Philosophy
Communicator Mathematics® is based on the principle that all children can learn standards-based mathematics and demonstrate strong computational and mental mathematics skills.
- The material is presented in a way that keeps children interested and actively involved.
- The program builds a foundation of conceptual understanding before algorithms are introduced.
- The design and implementation of the program are sufficiently comprehensive to make traditional “drill and kill” test preparation irrelevant.
Program Features
There are a number of elements that distinguish the Communicator Mathematics® program. These include:
The Concrete, Iconic, and Symbolic Method
Since math is very symbolic, students must build a strong foundation of understanding which helps them internalize the key mathematical concepts at hand. The learner first uses manipulatives to model a new concept. Next, they continue to model the concept, but use pictures to represent the objects. Finally, when enough foundation is in place, the student graduates from using manipulatives and icons and begins to associate symbols and numbers to the processes being modeled. These steps describe how Communicator Mathematics® leads the student from the concrete stage of understanding to the iconic stage representations of the objects) and finally the abstract, symbolic stage of learning.
Comprehensive support for the teacher
For teachers who are unfamiliar with standards-based math and pedagogy, Communicator Mathematics® provides an easy transition with strategies and materials that make for interesting and intellectually challenging lessons.
Comprehensive support for the parent
Communicator Mathematics® offers exceptional, unparalleled support to parents including a homework handbook which explains why the teacher is using unfamiliar methodology. It also includes suggestions for how to help children learn math concepts at home as well as interesting games and activities through which they practice the concepts they have been taught. In addition, parents have online access to all Communicator Mathematics® material via our website including lesson plans and video vignettes that model key concepts.
Hands-on discovery-based lessons
All concepts taught in Communicator Mathematics® begin with hands-on, discovery-based lessons. Students create sets of “data” through investigations. Then, through developing conjectures and questioning them, they discover for themselves the related algorithm. Procedures and algorithms are not stressed, applied or practiced until conceptual understanding is established.
Active participation built into every lesson
Through the use of the Communicator® clearboard, each student is involved with every question and idea under consideration. Not only is the teacher consistently informed about how well focused every student is on every topic, he or she also knows how well the student is processing and understanding the material.
A focus on computational fluency
Students start with a basic concept that is part of a big idea in mathematics. It is introduced at the basic level, yet related to the big idea. The student then progresses incrementally towards a mastery of concepts and deep understanding. Incremental repetition distributed over a period of time is a key element to building a long-term retention of learning. This structure is paramount to the underlying approach used in building computational fluency.
Mental Math Activities
Communicator Mathematics® helps all students develop powerful mental math skills. They learn the “facts” involved with math, but in a non-traditional way that helps them to be strategic about solving math problems and to apply math concepts in new and different situations. This skill is known as fluency in math.
Professional development support for Communicator Mathematics®
Coaching is an important element of a comprehensive implementation of the Communicator Mathematics® program. Using a combination of workshops and job-embedded coaching, Communicator Mathematics® teachers will become familiar with powerful teaching techniques, content, organization and classroom management. One-on-one coaching helps to build greater capacity to help all children succeed with challenging mathematics.
Instructional support through video vignettes and online resources
Communicator Mathematics® provides support for teachers through detailed lesson plans and video vignettes as well as providing all the materials for class work, homework and assessments, leaving the teacher free to prepare for teaching. This vehicle reflects the same techniques covered in the workshops, but extends the instruction as a refresher for the teacher. Teachers are thus able to again see the techniques applied in good practice.