Shifts - Spring 2026

5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discourse

NYS Shifts Overview Handout

NYS Next Generation Math Standards

General References for the Shifts

Original PPT from NYC about the Shifts

Have-a-Go Tasks

1. Train Problem

2. Dollars for Dancing

3. Farmer Fred

4. The Condo Problem

   • Article about the condo problem related to equity and cultural relevance

Shift #1

1. Key Attributes

2. Key Elements of Mathematics Learning

3. Who’s Doing the Thinking in the Math Classroom?

4. Podcast with Dr. Kristopher Childs

Shift #2

1. Low-Floor High-Ceiling Tasks

2. Launching Complex Tasks

3. Posing Cognitively Demanding Tasks to All Students

Examples and Nonexamples of Low-Floor, High-Ceiling Tasks

• PLC Editable PDF

• ChatGPT Examples

• Evaluate and Update a Task (P.S. 241 Working Copy)

Shift #3

1. Cultural and Linguistic Equity for MLs/ELLs

2. Developing Language and Content

3. Precision over Perfection 

4. Math Routines to Support Language

Additional Resources

• Academic Conversations Tools from Dr. Jeff Zwiers

• Math Constructive Conversation Skills Poster

• Accelerating Oral Language with Academic Conversations by Dr. Jeff Zwiers

• Talk Prompts Example #1

• Talk Prompts Example #2

• Talk Prompts Example #3

• Talk Prompts Example #4 (see end of paper)

• Assessing Academic Conversations

Shift #4

1. UDL Math

2. Developing an Asset Orientation

3. Presume Competence

4. How Amalia Multiples

5. Developing Math Identity

Shift #5

1. Phase 1 Algebra I Implementation

2. IM Implementation and Reflection Tool

3. Are We Doing it Right?

Curriculum Resources to Evaluate:

• Big Ideas (NYS Aligned)

• IM Kendall Hunt Version

Worked Examples

Resources:

1. Pre-K Standards

2. K - 12 ANet Standards List

3. NYS Next Generation Math Standards

4. NYS Released Items Bank

5. K - 2 Sample

6. 3 - 5 Sample

7. Middle School Sample

8. High School Sample - to be completed

9. Template for Worked Examples Structure

Groups

• Kinder

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

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