Sources of Information about Promising and Exemplary Programs and Materials for Elementary School Mathematics. ERIC/SMEAC Mathematics Education Digest No. 1

Many school staff and their client communities are concerned about pupil achievement, skills, and attitudes related to mathematics. To respond to these concerns, staff need to determine how they can improve their mathematics programs by modifying the content and skills emphasized in the curriculum, changing or supplementing instructional materials, and changing instructional approaches, and changing the use of technology.WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS

PROGRAM?There are several publications available to use to determine what a mathematics program should include. Several states including Florida, California, Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin have produced state guides or frameworks suggesting what should be included in a good elementary school mathematics program. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has developed Curriculum and Evaluation Standards (1989) that reflect a vision of what a mathematics program should be. Suggestions for implementing the standards are included.

In addition to the state and national frameworks and standards, several of the curriculum development projects, such as the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project, have developed frameworks and descriptions of their programs that can serve as sources of ideas.WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE THAT HAVE BEEN EVALUATED FOR

THEIR IMPACT ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE?

THE NATIONAL DIFFUSION NETWORK (NDN)The NDN provides funds to disseminate exemplary programs and materials. Before a program can be included in the NDN program, it must be approved by a review group, the Program Effectiveness Panel. A program requesting a review must provide evaluation data that indicate the program was effective in the school in which it was developed or field tested and that it could be used successfully in other schools.

Programs or materials that are judged effective are summarized in the Department of Education publication "Education Programs That Work" (Education Programs..., 1988); updated editions are produced periodically. Elementary school mathematics programs in the most recent edition include: Astra's Magic Math, a program for kindergarten students; Classmate 88 Mathematics Computational Skills Program, a program to improve the basic mathematical computational skills of economically disadvantaged children; Comprehensive School Mathematics Program, grades K-6; Cross-Aged Structured Tutoring Program for Math, grades 2-8; Diagnostic Prescriptive Arithmetic, grades 3-5; First Level Mathematics (KINDER MATH), kindergarten or grade 1; HOSTS Math, for remedial math grades 2-6; Individualized Prescriptive Arithmetic Skills System, grades 5 and 6, Systematic Teaching and Measuring Mathematics, grades K-8; Success Understanding Mathematics, grades 2-6; TEAM Accelerated Mathematics, grades 3-6; Title I Mathematics Computer Assisted Instruction, grades 3-6; and Mathematics Achievement Program, grades 2-5.THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)The National Science Foundation is providing support for the development of several elementary and middle school programs. All materials developed go through trials with pupils before they are released for use by schools. Among the projects being supported are the following: (1) Development of a Logo-based Elementary School Geometry Curriculum, Kent State University, Kent, OH; (2) Used Numbers: Collecting and Analyzing Real Data, Technical Education Research Centers, Cambridge, MA; (3) Reckoning with Mathematics: Tools and Challenges for the Information Age, Educational Development Center, Newton, MA; (4) Calculators and Mathematics Project-- Los Angeles (CAMP-LA), California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA; (5) K-6 Supplementary Mathematics Materials for a Technological Society, New York University, New York, NY; and (6) A Revision of the Geometry and Measurement Strands, K-6, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.WHAT ARE OTHER SOURCES OF PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS WITH

EVALUATION DATA?The Educational Products Information Exchange (EPIE) is a non-profit organization that reviews and evaluates educational materials. EPIE produces a newsletter and special publications that include evaluation information on a variety of curriculum materials including mathematics. A listing of EPIE materials can be obtained by writing to EPIE.

Some of the Regional Educational Laboratories sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education produce and/or review mathematics materials. The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, for example, reviews and evaluates computer software, including those related to mathematics. They publish the results of their reviews on a regular basis.

States such as New York and Pennsylvania produce mathematics materials for schools that have had extensive evaluation. Some states such as California and Texas publish reviews of textbooks.

The ERIC database contains materials, descriptions of programs, and evaluation data related to many programs.WHAT ARE OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT PROMISING

PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS?Some programs and materials have been found to be effective for improving learning, but have not been reviewed on a formal basis by an outside organization or agency. Based on their use and reported results, they are considered promising programs and materials and worthy of consideration by others.

The COSMOS Corporation (White, 1986) worked with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and other groups to identify programs and materials that were considered effective. The catalog published in 1986 contains more than 40 descriptions of programs, materials, and practices for elementary school mathematics. Programs and materials described include content modifications, use of technology (computers, calculators), mastery programs, problem-solving activities, use of manipulatives, cooperative learning,and supplemental materials.

The Title II program of the Education for Economic Security Act has supported the development of many promising programs and materials. A recent document published by the United States Department of Education contains over 80 project summaries from projects funded in 39 states and the District of Columbia. (Exemplary Projects. Mathematics-Science..., 1988). Included are several elementary school mathematics projects.

Elementary school mathematics programs and materials are also being developed with funds from the U.S. Department of Education Eisenhower Act. The Abstracts of the 1989 and 1988 Awards: Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science National Programs (Levinson, 1989) include 14 elementary programs with mathematics components.

There are a variety of programs and materials available that make use of new technology. Software has been and is being developed for elementary school programs. Integrated learning systems have been developed for elementary school mathematics. Distance learning programs (including the STAR School Project) also include materials for elementary school mathematics education. Linking for Learning (1989) and Online: Computers in Education (1989) describe several examples.

The ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (ERIC/SMEAC) has contacted (1) state, county, and local coordinators and curriculum specialists for mathematics and (2) federal program staff for nominations of programs and materials they consider promising and exemplary. In addition, association programs, newsletters, journals, and materials received at ERIC/SMEAC have been reviewed for programs and materials. From these sources, possible programs and materials are being identified and schools and projects involved with these activities are being contacted to obtain information about the programs and materials and actual materials when available. A description of a selection of the programs and materials related to elementary school mathematics will be published in 1990.

ERIC/SMEAC plans to produce supplements to the 1990 publication when additional programs and materials are identified. Nominations for programs and materials should be sent to ERIC/SMEAC.WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WAYS TO BEGIN?Some sources of information and publications that include programs and materials described in this digest are listed. In addition, you should contact your state coordinator or specialist in mathematics education; many states have started reform activities and you should determine what your state and schools in your state are doing and resources that are available.SELECTED INFORMATION SOURCESNational Science Foundation

Division of Materials Development,

Research and Informal Science Education

1800 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20550

Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

101 Southwest Main Street

Portland, OR 97204

National Diffusion Network

555 New Jersey Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20208-1525

EPIE Institute

P.O. Box 839

Water Mill, NY 11976SELECTED REFERENCESCurriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Reston, VA, 1989.

Directory of Awards. Fiscal Year 1987 and 1988. National Science Foundation, Washington, DC, 1989. ED 309 026.

Driscoll, Mark. Stories of Excellence, Ten Case Studies from A Study of Exemplary Mathematics Programs. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Reston, VA, 1987.

Education Programs That Work: A Collection of Proven Exemplary Educational Programs and Practices. Edition 14. Sopris West Incorporated, Longmont, CO, 1988. ED 296 984.

Exemplary Projects. Mathematics-Science, Computer Learning and Foreign Languages. A Collection of Projects Funded through Title II of the Education for Economic Security Act. Department of Education, Washington, DC, 1988. ED 302 390.

Levinson, Luna Lambert, Ed. Abstracts of the 1989 and 1988 Awards: Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science National Programs. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC, 1989. SE 051 024.

Linking for Learning. Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, DC, 1989.

Mathematics Education Programs That Work. A Collection of Proven Exemplary Educational Programs and Practices in the National Diffusion Network. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC, September, 1989.

Online: Computers in Education. What's Happening? What's Possible? Jostens Learning Corporation, San Diego, CA, 1989.

Ralph, John and M. Christine Dwyer. Making the Case. Evidence of Program Effectiveness in Schools and Classrooms. Criteria and Guidelines for the U.S. Department of Education's Program Effectiveness Panel. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC, November, 1988. ED 306 706.

White, J, Lynne, ed. Catalog of Practices in Science and Mathematics Education. COSMOS Corp, Washington, DC, 1986.