Everyday Mathematics Celebrates 20 Years of Success

Everyday Mathematics, a Pre-K-6 mathematics program developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) to substantially enhance math education in the United States, is celebrating its 20th year of ongoing research and development. The program, the best-selling standards-based mathematics program in the United States, began in 1985 as a result of research carried out at the University of Chicago and elsewhere.

Now reaching its second generation of students, Everyday Mathematics continues under a consistent UCSMP author team. Used today in nearly 175,000 classrooms with more than 2.8 million students with a strong track record of success, the program was developed with the help of researchers, mathematics educators, students, classroom teachers and administrators.

Excellent Results in Districts Nationwide

Meticulous research and development over 20 years has resulted in a unique approach to teaching math that has proven its effectiveness in increased test scores and a new enthusiasm for math among students. Successful implementations of Everyday Mathematics are in place in urban, rural and suburban districts across the country.

For example, the Anchorage School District, with 49,000 students, has seen the percentage of Grade 3 students scoring proficiently or advanced on the state's exam grow from 67 percent before using Everyday Mathematics to 76 percent in 2004. The district, which began using Everyday Mathematics districtwide in the 2000-2001 school year, is now doing so well that it received national recognition from the Council of Great City Schools in both 2003 and 2004 as one of six large urban districts nationwide with math scores meeting or exceeding state averages in all grades tested.

An Effective Program That Makes Mathematics Easier to Understand

"Everyday Mathematics is effective because it makes math a practical subject for students," said one of the program authors, Dr. Andrew Isaacs, co-director of the Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education at UCSMP. "When you frame math in everyday situations that students can understand, such as shopping or handling money, their common-sense understanding of the situation makes math more accessible."

The program began with the premise that young children can and must learn more mathematics than has been expected from them in the past, Isaacs said. Children learn concepts that weren't previously taught in their grade levels, such as probability, geometry, patterns, algebra, and data gathering and analysis. The instructional design is carefully crafted to capitalize on student interest and maximize student learning.

Beginning in 1985 with Kindergarten, each successive grade level of Everyday Mathematics was written and then field-tested for one year at a wide range of schools across the United States before it was revised and published. For example, Grade 2 was first written in 1989 and finally published in 1991.

Everyday Mathematics is organized into six mathematical content strands that cover a number of skills and concepts, providing a deep but balanced curriculum. Every strand is addressed throughout all grade levels of the program. Each grade level builds on and extends concept understanding, so children approach each new challenge from a firmly established foundation.

Principles for Teaching Make Everyday Mathematics Unique and Effective

The extensive research and product development led the authors to develop the following key principles as a basis for Everyday Mathematics:

  -- Mathematics means more when it is rooted in real-life problems and
     situations. Children's mathematical knowledge should grow from their
     experiences.

  -- Children can learn more than is usually expected because they know more
     than they are given credit for knowing. Experience gives children a
     rich store from which they can develop mathematical insight, reasoning
     and creativity.

  -- Instructors should take advantage of the teaching tools technology
     presents.

  -- Teachers are the single most important source for advancing and
     sustaining reform in mathematics education.

  About Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

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

Wright Group is a part of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading Pre-K through Grade 12 educational publisher and a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education, and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek. The corporation has more than 300 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2004 were $5.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com. For more information on Wright Group's products, call 1-800-648-2970 or visit www.wrightgroup.com.

SOURCE: McGraw-Hill Education

CONTACT: David Willette
Wright Group/McGraw-Hill
(312) 233-7786
david_willette@mcgraw-hill.com
Jose Rodriguez
Paul Werth Associates
(614) 224-8114
jrodriguez@paulwerth.com

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