A strong foundation in math in elementary school sets children up for success in middle school and beyond—in many cases, helping them place early into advanced math classes.
While many adults remember the math they learned as a series of formulas and memorized steps, research increasingly shows that deep understanding at an early age—not rote repetition—is the key to long-term success.
Friends’ Central Lower School teaches Context for Learning Mathematics in grades 1-5, “a curriculum that focuses on exploring the meaning behind the math so that students can fully understand what they are computing, rather than simply memorizing an algorithm,” explained Susan Clough, Friends’ Central Lower School Math Specialist who oversees the school’s math program.
Beyond Memorization: Building True Understanding
In the early grades at Friends’ Central, students benefit from working with concrete examples and stories that place numbers in real-world contexts. For instance, when subtraction is introduced through “open number lines,” children see numbers in context rather than as abstract facts. This helps them visualize concepts like place value and understand why a solution works, not just how to get there.
As they grow, students begin representing their thinking through drawings, charts, and number models—an early step toward the proofs and abstract reasoning they will encounter in advanced math. Classroom discussions, sometimes called “math congress,” give children the opportunity to compare strategies, explain their reasoning, and build confidence in presenting their ideas.
Introducing Algorithms at the Right Time
Traditional algorithms, such as long division or multi-digit multiplication, are not abandoned—they are simply introduced later in Lower School, once students have developed the conceptual grounding to use them effectively. By the time algorithms appear, children already have multiple problem-solving strategies in place. This prevents the common pitfall of “memorize now, forget later” and instead creates flexible thinkers who can approach challenges from different angles.
Challenging and Supporting Every Learner
Strong math instruction balances support with appropriate challenges. In effective classrooms, small-group work allows teachers to tailor lessons to different ability levels. Some children may need extra time with number sense, while others are ready to explore fractions, ratios, or even pre-algebra concepts earlier than expected. The goal is the same: to ensure every child develops both confidence and competence.
Primed for Advanced Middle School Math and Beyond
Since implementing the Context for Learning Mathematics curriculum, Friends’ Central Lower School has seen a major increase in the number of students who test into advanced mathematics classes as they enter sixth grade at Friends’ Central’s Middle School. “The tests they're taking in fifth grade to qualify them is on material they’ve never seen before,” said FCS Lower School Math Specialist Susan Clough. “This shows us that they haven’t just memorized these algorithms; they know how to attack a problem – even a new one – using the strategies they’ve learned. The teachers are just amazed by the stuff they can figure out. We’re really pleased!”
And that sets Friends’ Central students on a trajectory to continue to excel as they move into the Upper School. Most FCS students complete at least a year of calculus before graduation, and many go well beyond. Advanced students have the opportunity to progress through Linear Algebra (Advanced) and Multivariable Calculus (Advanced) by the time they graduate.
