Foundational Numeracy

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K-4 Math Foundational Learning Progressions

The K-4 Mathematics Foundational Learning Progressions support the development of mathematics skills and are intended to support teachers in building students’ vital thinking skills in mathematics. The mathematics Foundational Learning Progressions include descriptors of proficient in key aspects of Mathematics, including number concepts, understanding operations, patterning, geometry, data literacy, and financial literacy. They help teachers to understand end-of-year goals and provide a point of comparison to track students’ development towards end-of-year goals. Using the Mathematics Foundational Learning Progressions can help teachers identify both areas of strength as well as areas for additional support or intervention towards meeting end-of-year proficiency.

The Foundational Learning Progressions were developed by BC teachers and support teachers to identify where students are at in their learning and provide teachers with a clear developmental sequence of foundational skills in the Math curriculum. While the Foundational Learning Progressions are useful for all teachers, special attention was given to supporting new teachers by providing clear definitions of terminology used in both the Learning Progressions and the Learning Standards of the curriculum.

The K-4 Foundational Learning Progressions represent important foundational learning in Math. While these skills are crucial, cross-curricular thinking and communication skills can also be developed alongside the foundational skills of math. These skills are outlined in the K-12 Cross Curricular Numeracy Learning Progressions  and intend to support teachers in all areas of learning to develop cross-curricular numeracy skills.

French versions of the K-4 Math Foundational Learning Progressions are now available:

K-3 Mathematics: A Pathway to Proficiency

The K-3 Mathematics: A Pathway to Proficiency resource includes helpful information for parents and caregivers about the math curriculum and examples of what foundational learning may look like from K-3 in math. 

K-4 Foundational Math Teaching and Learning Stories

A team of teachers from throughout the province piloted the K-4 Foundational Learning Progressions in their classrooms. These teachers have shared their experience in using the Foundational Learning Progressions in their instructional and assessment practices. The Teaching and Learning stories also contain teacher reflections that include evaluations on the use of the K-4 Foundational Learning Progressions and how they shaped the teachers’ approaches to teaching and assessing the key skills in the Mathematics curricula. Included in the stories are examples of Developing and Proficient student work. Teachers also noted how they used the Foundational Learning Progressions to help determine the Proficiency level, and how they plan to support Developing students in attaining Proficiency.

We thank the teachers, students, and families who provided their stories and examples of teaching and learning in our province.