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Everyday Mathematics Helps Indiana District Improve Math Scores

Posted on: Monday, 4 May 2009, 08:30 CDT

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michigan City Area Schools' math scores on the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) have increased most years since implementing Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics(R), bringing averages closer to the state average than ever before.

ISTEP+ is given at the beginning of the school year, thereby assessing skills students retained from the year before. During the 2003-2004 school year, as Everyday Mathematics pilots were beginning, 52% of Grade 6 students passed the math portion. By 2007-2008, Grade 6 students reached an all-time high with 73% passing math.

Successful Implementation Begins with Commitment

Located in northwest Indiana, just 50 miles east of Chicago, Michigan City is nestled along Lake Michigan, making it a popular summer tourist destination. With a population of roughly 33,000, the city's public school system, Michigan City Area Schools, includes one high school, three middle schools, and nine elementary schools.

The district serves a diverse population: 54% of students are Caucasian, 31% African-American, 9% multicultural, and 5% Hispanic. The district has the ninth highest rate in the state of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch: 66%. Around 22% of students are classified as special education. Only about 15% of the community population have a college education, and 20% have less than a high school diploma. Nearly 38% of students live in single parent households -- the thirteenth highest in Indiana.

Despite the challenges of educating a diverse student population, Michigan City Area Schools are seeing marked improvement in mathematics education. Dr. Jan Radford, director of K-12 curriculum, attributes the increase to Everyday Mathematics.

"The success we are seeing in math is the direct result of implementing the Everyday Mathematics curriculum in Grades K-6. Everyday Mathematics works because it is a proven, research-based program that gives students a chance to practice material even as they learn new concepts," Dr. Radford said.

During the 2003-2004 school year, Michigan City Area Schools piloted Everyday Mathematics in about one third of the district's elementary and middle schools. Based on feedback from the pilot and a committee of teachers on a textbook review panel, Michigan City adopted Everyday Mathematics for K-6 district-wide in 2004-05.

To assist with Everyday Mathematics implementations, Wright Group/McGraw-Hill offers comprehensive professional development opportunities.

At the start of the implementation, Michigan City Area Schools provided all teachers, including special education teachers, with a two-day workshop to learn the philosophies and methods. During the first two years, Michigan City also provided follow-up sessions periodically through the year by grade level.

Currently, the district offers similar professional development for any staff new to the district at the beginning of the year.

Students and Teachers Alike Appreciate Everyday Mathematics Lessons

Both administrators and teachers point to the Everyday Mathematics' consistent, research-based approach as key to the program's success.

The distributive practice method in which materials are re-visited regularly also provide more opportunities for students to learn skills, educators say.

"Teachers like that the materials and lessons are outlined and ready for them," Dr. Radford explained. "But more importantly, teachers like knowing the program works after all the hard work they put into it."

Teachers aren't the only fans of Everyday Mathematics at Michigan City Area Schools.

"Our students absolutely love Everyday Mathematics because of the hands-on approach and because there are multiple ways to get to an answer," Dr. Radford said. "But the bottom line is that Everyday Mathematics makes our students feel successful."

About Everyday Mathematics

With more than 20 years of history, Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics for Grades Pre-K-6 helps students measure up to the demand for greater mathematical competence and problem-solving ability. Everyday Mathematics was developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. The research-based curriculum is used in nearly 185,000 classrooms across the United States by more than 3 million children.

The Everyday Mathematics eSuite includes an online lesson planner with digital access to all teacher materials, an interactive online student edition, animated games for additional fact practice, an assessment management system to monitor student progress, and multilingual family letters in nine languages to support the home-school connection.

Visit EverydayMathSuccess.com to read about the program's efficacy and to see videos of the program in use in the classroom. See Everyday Mathematics' Parent Connection for parent resources.

About Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

Wright Group/McGraw-Hill publishes innovative core and supplemental literacy and mathematics programs for differentiated instruction and teacher training in Grades Pre-K-8. The research-based approach, anchored in real-world applications, is based on the assessed needs of students, combining developmentally appropriate materials with explicit outcomes.

Wright Group is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of print and digital instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages. Additional information is available at MHEducation.com. For more information on Wright Group's products, call

1-800-648-2970 or visit WrightGroup.com.

SOURCE SRA/McGraw-Hill

Source: PR Newswire

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