Effective schools show gains in student performance. One way they do this is by aligning the math content with each grade level. When you have a clear idea of what your students need to learn at each grade level, they are more likely to have a sequential and coordinated learning experience. Maps that outline the content and skills for each grade level are known as scope and sequence guidelines.

Schools and districts often have scope and sequence outlines. These are usually based on state standards as the core curriculum. From there, the curriculum may be adapted to include specific needs or interests. (For instance, a school may want to add the content covered by a certain textbook.)

These curriculum content guidelines provide a summary of what you need to teach in each of the five math content areas. They also give you a description of what your students need to learn at each grade level.

In this section, you will see grade-by-grade curriculum maps based on the benchmarks or performance expectations of one state. The benchmarks or target behaviors are listed in the last column for each content area. Levels of development are suggested for three time periods of the school year. These are provided only as general guidelines or reminders. You can use them as a planning tool to help you cover all the content areas throughout the year.

These maps provide you with examples of how you could plan your math curriculum for various grade levels. It's important to remember that these are only examples. However, they can give you a good starting point for your content curriculum planning.

To use these, you should compare them with your state's math standards and benchmarks. You should also be aware of any local or district standards. You should be familiar with your textbooks and supplemental materials. Finally, you should study the assessment results of state or district assessments. These may give you insight into the strengths and weaknesses of your students.