A Curriculum Project on Connecting Patterns and Equations in Algebra 1 Aligned with the New York State Common Core Standards

Abstract

Introduction Change is constant in the world of education. Teacher requirements and education policies are constantly evolving at a statewide and nationwide level, and it is critical that teachers adapt to these changes for successful classroom learning experiences. Through implementing new technologies in the classroom teachers may elevate students understanding, provide deeper meaning in content, and make connections to real life applications. Recent studies show that implementing technology and modeling strategies in the classroom have the potential to evoke a higher level of understanding among all students (NYSED, 2012). This curriculum project aligned the Algebra 1: Unit 1- Connecting Patterns and Equations to the New York State (NYS) Common Core State Standards (CCSS) while focusing on implementing modeling in the classroom (Neher & Plourde, 2012; Newton & Kasten, 2013). The goal of this project is to provide teachers with a clear, concise, cohesive unit plan in which they can use in their own classroom. This curriculum project was tailored for many students and was aligned with the NYS CCSS.