Wisconsin's adoption of the Common Core State Standards provides an excellent opportunity for Wisconsin school districts and communities to define expectations from birth through preparation for college and work. By aligning the existing Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards with the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards, expectations can be set from birth through high school completion. Since 2003, the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards have helped all programs serving children under mandatory school age to identify what children from birth through age 5 should know and be able to do. Schools across the state have worked with child care, Head Start, and other community programs to incorporate the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards into their early childhood special education, four-year-old kindergarten, and five-year-old kindergarten programs. The adoption of "Wisconsin Common Core State Standards" will allow significant alignment between the "Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards" and the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards provide developmental expectations for young children from birth through kindergarten that are foundational to the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards for kindergarten through grade 12. School districts are encouraged to use both the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and the Wisconsin Common Core State Standards as they move forward with their standards work in early childhood special education, four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten programs, and the primary school years. This brief document provides information that will assist in these efforts.

Standards address both Agricultural Literacy and Agricultural Education. Content and performance standards are identified for grades 4, 8, and 12. Organized into six strands: Global Agricultural Systems, Technology / Information, Leadership, Agriscience / Production, Ecology / Environment, Business Management and Marketing. Also lists performance standards for middle and high school agriculture students. Cross-referenced to standards for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

Early childhood mathematics is vitally important for young children's present and future educational success. Research demonstrates that virtually all young children have the capability to learn and become competent in mathematics. Furthermore, young children enjoy their early informal experiences with mathematics. Unfortunately, many children's potential in mathematics is not fully realized, especially those children who are economically disadvantaged. This is due, in part, to a lack of opportunities to learn mathematics in early childhood settings or through everyday experiences in the home and in their communities. Improvements in early childhood mathematics education can provide young children with the foundation for school success. Relying on a comprehensive review of the research, Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood lays out the critical areas that should be the focus of young children's early mathematics education, explores the extent to which they are currently being incorporated in early childhood settings, and identifies the changes needed to improve the quality of mathematics experiences for young children. This book serves as a call to action to improve the state of early childhood mathematics. It will be especially useful for policy makers and practitioners-those who work directly with children and their families in shaping the policies that affect the education of young children.

Results from national and international assessments indicate that school children in the United States are not learning mathematics well enough. Many students cannot correctly apply computational algorithms to solve problems. Their understanding and use of decimals and fractions are especially weak. Indeed, helping all children succeed in mathematics is an imperative national goal. However, for our youth to succeed, we need to change how we're teaching this discipline. Helping Children Learn Mathematics provides comprehensive and reliable information that will guide efforts to improve school mathematics from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The authors explain the five strands of mathematical proficiency and discuss the major changes that need to be made in mathematics instruction, instructional materials, assessments, teacher education, and the broader educational system and answers some of the frequently asked questions when it comes to mathematics instruction. The book concludes by providing recommended actions for parents and caregivers, teachers, administrators, and policy makers, stressing the importance that everyone work together to ensure a mathematically literate society.