Oklahoma School District Earns High Test Scores With Everyday Mathematics®

Union Public School District teachers in Grades K-6 piloted Everyday Mathematics® during the 2002-2003 school year. The program was implemented district-wide in Grades K-3 the following year and then adopted in Grades K-5 for the 2004-2005 school year. Since then, students' math scores have steadily improved.

"When we implemented Everyday Math, the district's demographics were beginning to change," explained Shannan Bittle, math curriculum specialist for the district. "Our test scores reflect an influx of new students, especially in the lower grades. New students in those grades often come to us with very little math background, but by the time they reach Grade 5, they've experienced at least one to two years of Everyday Math and are able to attain and maintain good scores."

Everyday Mathematics works well in the Union Public School District because of its distributive practice, Bittle said.

"Students are exposed to a skill several times before they reach mastery," she said. "The program also teaches problem-solving skills and number sense, which means they gain a great foundation of math and understanding of the procedures involved. Many of the routines introduced and used in Everyday Mathematics preview algebraic concepts that students will learn in Algebra I and Algebra II."

Students understand how numbers fit together because Everyday Mathematics addresses multiple ways to solve a problem, Bittle said.

"I think that's a great aspect of the program because it addresses all the different learning styles of our students. That means children can find what works best for them. They learn there's more than one way to solve a problem, which is also a great life lesson," she said.

Since implementing Everyday Mathematics, students at Union Public Schools have scored well in math on the Criterion-reference Test (CRT). For example, 84% of Grade 5 students scored Satisfactory or Advanced in 2004 prior to exposure to Everyday Mathematics. After four years with the research-based program, that number increased to an impressive 92%. Students in Grades 3-4 also maintain high scores in math with scores in the 80-90% range.

About Union Public School District

Union Public Schools, Independent District #9, is a premiere Oklahoma school district, known for its excellence, pride, and tradition. Its reputation is based on visionary curriculum, superb faculty and staff, award-winning fine arts programs, championship athletic and academic teams, outstanding facilities, and a community that supports the school system.

The Union Public School District is located approximately eight miles from downtown Tulsa and serves more than 14,650 students in Grades Pre-K-12 in 18 schools. The student population is 51% Caucasian, 18% Hispanic, 14% African American, 10% Native American, and 7% Asian. Thirty-nine percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. For more information about the district, visit UnionPS.org.

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 WrightGroup.com/Parent_Connection/index.html 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 60 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.

  Media Contacts:
  Amy Tillinghast                           Melina Metzger
  Wright Group/McGraw-Hill                  Paul Werth Associates
  (614) 750-7285                            (614) 224-8114 Ext. 236
  amy_tillinghast@mcgraw-hill.com           mmetzger@paulwerth.com

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SOURCE: Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Amy Tillinghast of Wright Group/McGraw-Hill, +1-614-750-7285,
amy_tillinghast@mcgraw-hill.com; or Melina Metzger of Paul Werth Associates,
for Wright Group/McGraw-Hill, +1-614-224-8114 Ext. 236,
mmetzger@paulwerth.com

Web Site: http://www.mheducation.com/