Virginia Middle Mathematics Grant Project

Overview
This project seeks to improve student achievement in mathematics through professional learning opportunities offered for regular education, special education and gifted education middle school mathematics teachers. A collaboration between the University of Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, and school divisions across Virginia, the project is supported with funds through a Virginia Department of Education Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant NCLB Title II Part B.
 
Goals
Teachers participating in the project will: 

• Deepen their understanding of mathematics content as defined in the NCTM Principal and Standards and the Virginia Standards of Learning


• Develop the habits of a mathematician through problem solving.


• Develop knowledge and skills to help students make sense of mathematics.


• Develop skills to analyze, refine and implement standards-based mathematics lessons.


• Participate in lesson study as a tool for reflective analysis of instruction as it relates to students’ developing understanding of mathematics.


• Develop site-based leadership capacity to engage in reflective professional learning communities to analyze instruction and improve student achievement.

Teachers will enroll in a minimum of one mathematics strand content course and in the follow-up Mathematical Applications through Problem Solving & Lesson Study. 

The five content strand courses will be taught through face-to-face instruction. The follow-up Mathematical Applications  will be taught as a blend of face-to-face, job-embedded and distance learning instruction. All courses offer three graduate credits.

Participation
To participate, school division partners agree that participating teachers will enroll in at least two courses. For each participating teacher, the grant funds will cover $457 in tuition for each course as well as all textbooks and materials. Tuition for Virginia residents is $645 plus $12 technology fee beginning fall 2007.
 
A second objective for the grant is to build site-based leadership. Each middle school that has at least three mathematics teachers participating will identify a classroom mathematics teacher to serve as the Math Lead Teacher for the school. This teacher will receive a $500 stipend through the grant and to participate in two, one-day leadership professional develop workshops. 
 
Courses can be offered to a single school division if the division can identify a group at least 15 teachers who wish to enroll in a course. If a single school division does not have 15 teachers, then two or more school divisions are encouraged to work together to offer these courses.
 
Contact the Office of Mathematics Outreach for additional information.

To see if a course is being offered this semester, click on the link(s) below.

Courses

MATH 672

MM Number Systems For Middle School Teachers

MATH 673

MM Fractions, Decimals, and Percents For Middle School Teachers

MATH 674

MM Patterns, Relations, And Algebraic Concepts For Middle School Teachers

MATH 675

MM Geometric Concepts And Measurement For Middle School Teachers

MATH 676

MM Data Analysis, Probability, And Statistics For Middle School Teachers

MATH 677		Mathematical Applications Through Problem Solving and Lesson Study for Middle School Teachers
Program Contact Vickie Inge Title: Director of Mathematics Outreach Email Address: vinge@virginia.edu Telephone: 434-982-4946 Fax Number: 434-982-5335 Books Schedule & Locations