Four exciting mathematics programs are used in Sylvania Schools!
Kindergarten, Grades 1 - 5
Everyday Mathematics (SRA McGraw Hill Publishing)
Junior High
Connected Mathematics (Prentice Hall Publishing)
High School*
Contemporary Mathematics in Context (Glencoe-McGraw Hill Publishing)
*A traditional Algebra I-Geometry-Algebra II program is also available at both high schools as an alternative
Background
The National Science Foundation (NSF) provided financial support in the development of all four of these programs since there was an acute need in the United States for mathematics materials that emphasize the mathematics most important in the world today and that utilize “best practices” in the teaching of mathematics as identified by years of research into how students learn.
Description
All four of these programs use a problem-solving approach to the teaching of mathematics. While they strongly support the learning of the basics, these programs do not use a rule-oriented approach devoid of the context in which mathematics is used. Students learn through the solving of rich, meaningful problems. Over time, they develop effective, efficient methods for solving similar groups of problems. Since they have developed these methods themselves from their own conceptual understanding of mathematical relationships, they almost always remember them much longer than rules that were given to them by a teacher or textbook.
For more information on the content and philosophy of each of these programs, you can visit the following web sites:
Investigations in Number, Data, and Space
http://www.comap.com/elementary/projects/arc/curricul.htm - Investigations
http://www.terc.edu/TEMPLATE/projects/item.cfm?ProjectID=49
The “Ask an author” section of the following website can be helpful in understanding how Investigations approaches specific topics.
http://www2.lab.brown.edu/investigations/
Everyday Mathematics
http://www.comap.com/elementary/projects/arc/curricul.htm - Everyday Mathematics
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/
Connected Mathematics
http://www.math.msu.edu/cmp/Curriculum/MathGoals.htm
http://showmecenter.missouri.edu/showme/Curricula.htm
Contemporary Mathematics in Context
http://www.wmich.edu/cpmp/organize.html
http://www.ithaca.edu/compass/frames.htm
Research
In addition to the strong grounding in research during the development of these four programs, each has been thoroughly researched after completion in classrooms in all types of schools throughout the country. The results are consistent and show that children in these programs excel at problem-solving and multiple approaches to problems without any loss of computational facility.
For more research information, please visit the following web sites:
All NSF-funded elementary programs:
http://www.comap.com/elementary/projects/arc/tri – state achievement full report.htm
Investigations in Number, Data and Space
http://www.terc.edu/investigations/impact/html/impact-map.html
Everyday Mathematics
http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/about.shtml - research
Connected Mathematics
http://www.math.msu.edu/cmp/RepStu.html
Contemporary Mathematics in Context
http://www.wmich.edu/cpmp/evaluation.html
Independent Evaluation
In 2000, the United States Department of Education published a report of Exemplary and Promising Mathematics Programs. All programs submitted were reviewed by a national panel of experts. Both Connected Mathematics and Contemporary Mathematics in Context received the highest rating possible-Exemplary. Everyday Mathematics received the second-highest rating of Promising. Investigations in Number, Data and Space was not complete at all grade levels at the time programs were submitted for review (at least two years before the report was published) so was neither reviewed nor rated.
For more information about the Department of Education’s report, see the following web site:
http://www.enc.org/professional/federalresources/exemplary/promising/
In addition, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in two separate studies reviewed middle school textbooks and first year high school mathematics textbooks. In these studies, Connected Mathematics and Contemporary Mathematics in Context were very highly rated for their ability to help students learn important mathematics.
The ratings as well as the methodology used in the AAAS studies can be found at these web sites:
Middle Grades Mathematics
http://www.project2061.org/tools/textbook/matheval/default.htm (entire report)
http://www.project2061.org/tools/textbook/matheval/part1b.htm (go directly to the ratings)
High School Algebra
http://www.project2061.org/newsinfo/press/rl000426.htm (general information)
http://www.project2061.org/newsinfo/research/textbook/hsalg/charts.htm (go directly to the ratings)
