Del Mar Hills Academy

Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Math is a research and professional development project that is based on the idea that instruction can be improved by providing teachers access to research-based knowledge about children's mathematical thinking and by helping them to explore instruction that builds on children’s thinking. As teachers learn about the details of their students’ thinking, they can use this information to differentiate instruction to better meet the needs of all students in the classrooms.  At Del Mar Hills, we are focusing on improving students’ problem solving and reasoning skills in mathematics, including their ability to communicate their mathematical ideas.  These skills are critical for our students to be successful on the upcoming assessments related to the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM) and, more generally, as citizens in the 21st century.  Over the past 25 years, CGI has proven successful in multiple environments and has been extensively researched.  Not only have there been documented gains in student achievement and teacher learning, but both students and teachers have also reported increased enjoyment of mathematics – an important factor in students’ decisions to pursue mathematics and science courses (and careers).