Some quick takes on the new Ontario Grade 1-8 Math Curriculum http://dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/ 

1. I’m noticing a lack of the word “investigate” anywhere in the document. Can’t say I’m surprised...

2. Having an explicit emphasis on mental math strategies is going to shift how teachers instruct, and they will need to be able to name and notice these mental strategies and move students along from less efficient to more efficient. That’s huge.

3. I really like that promoting a positive identity as a math learner and the 7 math processes are explicit in expectations rather than being front-matter that no one pays attention to.

4. Interesting that symbols as variables are being introduced in Grade 2. That used to be really introduced in Grade 5.

5. Simple coding starts in Grade 1, and by Grade 8, students need to develop code to analyze data to inform and communicate decisions. That has lots of potential for developing an informed citizenry. I like how coding is applied here.

6. Measurement and Geometry are merged into one strand, which mirrors what happens in Grade 9 currently.

7. A power-couponer definitely wrote this expectation:

8. I can’t help but feel that Canada’s debt-to-GDP ratio is driving this financial literacy strand.

9. My wish of having an explicit focus on mathematics for understanding and tackling social issues did not come true. That systemic piece would have been great. I guess individual teachers will have to take it upon themselves (yet again...)

10. This needs to be front and centre: