Notes
Slide Show
Outline
1

TEAM-Math
Project Overview
2
TEAM-Math Mission Statement
  • To enable all students to understand, utilize, communicate, and appreciate mathematics as a tool in everyday situations in order to become life-long learners and productive citizens by Transforming East Alabama Mathematics (TEAM-Math).
3
TEAM-Math Partners
  • Auburn University
  • Tuskegee University
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
4
Why TEAM-Math?
  • Low test scores in East Alabama
  • Large achievement gaps between:
    • Various ethnic groups
    • Students of different income levels
    • General education students and special education students
5
Comparison of East Alabama
to State Averages (2003)
  • Grade 4 (SAT-10)
    • State Average: 53
    • East Alabama: 50
  • Grade 8 (SAT-10)
    • State Average: 49
    • East Alabama: 44
  • Grade 11 (Pass rate on AHSGE)
    • State Average: 79
    • East Alabama: 72
6
Comparison of Subgroups in East Alabama (2003 SAT-10)
  • Grade 4
    • White students: 57
    • Black students:  39


    • Fully-paid lunch:  63
    • Free/reduced lunch: 40


    • General education: 55
    • Special education: 17
7
Project Goals
  • To improve student achievement in mathematics and close achievement gaps.
  • Systemic Improvement of Mathematics Education
    • Alignment of policies and practices across the system
    • Different audiences: Teachers, administrators, the public
  • “It’s not just what you teach, it’s how you teach!”
8
Funding
  • Initial funding from Auburn University
    • $100,000 from Outreach, College of Sciences and Mathematics, and College of Education
  • Continuing funding from the National Science Foundation Math-Science Partnership (MSP) program
    • $9 million over the next five years
9
Major Activities
  • Curriculum alignment
  • Leadership development
  • Professional development
  • Redesign of teacher preparation program
10
Curriculum
  • Developed course-by-course objectives for what should be taught
  • Recommended textbooks matching objectives and project goals
    • All 12 districts have adopted these recommendations!
11
Leadership Development
  • TEAM-Math Teacher Leaders
    • District Teacher Leaders coordinate implementation across a district
    • School Teacher Leaders coordinate implementation within a school
  • Activities
    • Quarterly meetings of teacher leaders
12
Professional Development
  • Each year, approximately 25 schools enter the program as a cohort to engage in intensive professional development.
    • All mathematics teachers at that school are expected to participate.
    • Teachers from non-cohort schools are also invited to selected TEAM-Math activities.
13
Professional Development Activities
  • Summer Institute I (two weeks)
    • About 350 teachers attended June 2004
  • Quarterly follow-up meetings throughout the year
  • School-based activities
  • Summer Institute II (one week)
  • A menu of other mini-courses and activities
14
Redesign of Teacher Preparation
  • Working to improve the preparation of new teachers.
    • Redesign content courses for elementary education majors
    • Align methods courses at all levels
  • Includes mathematicians and teacher educators.
15
Other Activities
  • Recruitment of new teachers
  • Mentoring for new teachers
  • Briefings and training for administrators and guidance counselors
  • Parental involvement component
  • Outreach to the public, including businesses
16
How Do We Know This Will Work?
  • TEAM-Math is based on the best available research on mathematics teaching and learning.
  • Out of nearly 200 projects applying for funding from the MSP program of the National Science Foundation, TEAM-Math is one of only 7 that received funding.
  • Projects with similar designs have shown significant improvements in student achievement.
    • While the improvement is not necessarily immediate, it is cumulative and long-lasting.
17
Baltimore City Public School System
CTBS Mathematics Composite Scores
Median National Percentiles
18
A New Vision for School Mathematics
19
Characteristics of the Vision
  • Designed to meet the needs of all students
  • Engages students in making sense of mathematics— “inquiry based”
  • Focuses on the usefulness of mathematics
  • Includes a broad view of mathematics
    • Attention to statistics and data analysis across the curriculum
20
A Shift in Teaching
21
What Does This Mean
For You and Your Student?
  • Math class might look a little different this year!
    • Working in groups
    • More challenging problems
    • Use of graphing calculators
  • Hopefully, they will enjoy mathematics more…
  • And learn more mathematics as well!