(excerpts from the “Introduction” to Washington State K-12 Mathematics Standards, July, 2008)
“The Washington State K–12 Mathematics Standards outline the mathematics learning expectations for all students in Washington. These standards describe the mathematics content, procedures, applications, and processes that students are expected to learn. The topics and mathematical strands represented across grades K–12 constitute a mathematically complete program that includes the study of numbers, operations, geometry, measurement, algebra, data analysis, and important mathematical processes…”
“…An effective mathematics program balances three important components of mathematics— conceptual understanding (making sense of mathematics), procedural proficiency (skills, facts, and procedures), and problem solving and mathematical processes (using mathematics to reason, think, and apply mathematical knowledge). These standards make clear the importance of all three of these components, purposefully interwoven to support students’ development as increasingly sophisticated mathematical thinkers. The standards are written to support the development of students so that they know and understand mathematics…”