The Houghton Mifflin Math in Focus program is taught across all lower school grades and is supplemented with many hands-on activities to practice and reinforce skills introduced. This methodology enables students to become strategic mathematical problem solvers and persevere in solving problems. Instruction focuses on the how and why of mathematical concepts, along with its ability to meet all learners by moving from the concrete, to the pictorial, and lastly to the abstract. Having numbers introduced in this way provides a solid number sense and builds confidence in mathematical skills. One of the ultimate goals at Sanford is to balance conceptual understanding with mastering skills. Collaborative problem solving is increasingly important; it is also one of the best ways to learn math!