Creative Core Curriculum for Mathematics with STEM, Literacy and Art

TPS Creative Core Curriculum's Grades K-2 does not meet the expectations for alignment to the Common Core State Standards and usability. Traditional student textbooks as well as STEM and Art projects are provided; however, materials do not spend the majority of instructional time on major work of the grades. The sequence in which topics are covered follows a successive rollout of individual standards and is not consistent with the logical structure as outlined by the CCSSM. Therefore, materials are lacking important connections between standards, clusters and/or domains where appropriate and required. Overall, the instructional materials included in this series lack mathematical focus and coherence.

TPS Creative Core Curriculum's Grades 3-5 does not meet the expectations for alignment to the Common Core State Standards and usability. Traditional student textbooks as well as STEM and Art projects are provided; however, materials do not spend the majority of instructional time on major work of the grades. The sequence in which topics are covered follows a successive rollout of individual standards and is not consistent with the logical structure as outlined by the CCSSM. Therefore, materials are lacking important connections between standards, clusters and/or domains where appropriate and required. Overall, the instructional materials included in this series lack mathematical focus and coherence.

The materials reviewed for the Grades 6-8 do not meet the requirements for alignment to the CCSSM. The materials are explicitly shaped by the CCSSM but many aspects of focus and coherence are lacking. Assessment materials are supplemental and were not reviewed. There is limited connection made between supporting and major work, and there are no explicit connections made to prior knowledge. Even though all of the CCSSM are covered in the textbook, the coverage is minimal, leaving the STEM book to give greater depth to the standards. The STEM book leaves some parts of the standards out, students will not get extensive practice on all of grade-level problems. Overall the materials do not focus on major work or provide materials that are coherent and consistent with the standards.