By Sarah Schuhl, Timothy D. Kanold, Jennifer Deinhart, Matthew R. Larson, and Mona Toncheff

The authors provide grades 3–5 mathematics teachers with a framework for collectively planning a unit of study. This book helps teams identify what students need to know by the end of each unit and how to build student self-efficacy. The authors advocate using the PLC at Work process for increasing mathematics achievement, and as teams answer the four critical questions of a PLC, they provide students with a more equitable learning experience. The authors share tools and protocols for effectively performing collaborative tasks, such as unwrapping standards, generating unit calendars, determining academic vocabulary and rigorous lessons, utilizing and sharing self-reflections, and designing robust fraction units. By reading Mathematics Unit Planning in a PLC at Work®, Grades 3–5, teachers will receive practical insight into collaborative planning and inspiring detailed models of this work in action.
Mathematics Unit Planning in a PLC at Work®, Grades 3–5 is divided into two parts. Part 1 consists of chapters 1–2 and addresses how teachers build a shared understanding of the content students need to know in each grade level by utilizing the seven planning elements. Chapter 1 identifies the mathematics concepts and skills students need to know in grades 3–5. Chapter 2 provides templates for unit planning and describes how teams can successfully incorporate each unit-planning element in their unit designs. Part 2 contains chapters 3–5 and details how teams can utilize the protocols in Part 1 by examining three model units for fractions, one for each grade level. Chapter 3 outlines how a third-grade team can plan a unit related to fraction understanding. Chapter 4 takes a look at how a fourth-grade team can plan an effective unit for fraction equivalence, addition, and subtraction. Chapter 5 focuses on an example of a fifth-grade team planning a unit for fraction addition and subtraction. The appendix contains two parts: (1) Appendix A shows readers how to create a proficiency map and (2) Appendix B provides a checklist and questions for mathematics unit planning