Mathematically Connected Communities

Parents Teachers Administrators

Creating Mathematically Connected Communities

Middle Grades Mathematics Textbooks Created under Mathstar

Standards Based Resources

Connecting Our Communities

A Benchmarks-Based Evaluation

There is ample evidence that too few young people emerge from the school systems of this country well educated in science and mathematics. Whatever the case in other countries, the science and mathematics literacy called for in Science for All Americans (American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS], 1989) still evades us in the United States. While there are undoubtedly multiple and complex reasons for this, and no simple remedies, the instructional materials used in the schools are a substantial part of the problem.

As Project 2061 has found, and recent data from the Third International Science and Mathematics Study (Schmidt, McKnight, & Raizen, 1997) demonstrate, most curriculum materials suffer from a lack of coherence and focus. It would be a great advantage to educators if they could have ready access to reliable information on how well available textbooks support the specific understandings and skills in science, mathematics, and technology that constitute science literacy.

The following evaluations are intended to help mathematics educators make better decisions about which middle grades textbooks would most effectively help their students improve their achievement in mathematics. The results of this evaluation can also help educators use textbooks more effectively by identifying areas where supplemental materials or staff development may be needed.

MATHSTAR RECOMMENDATIONS (click on text name to view the textbook evaluation)

ALL EVALUATED TEXTS

The above information was excerpted from Project 2061

For further information see the following Education Week articles:

Algebra Textbooks Come Up Short In Project 2061 Review The review of 12 textbooks found that evaluators determined seven of the books have the potential to help students learn algebra, while five were found to have little potential to do so.
Algebra Benefits All Students, Study Finds
The Weak Link "The middle school is the crux of the whole problem and really the point where we begin to lose it ... In math and science, the middle grades are an intellectual wasteland."
U.S. Schools Importing Singaporean Texts Singaporeans outpaced their counterparts in 39 other countries, including such educational powerhouses as Japan and Taiwan. They also outscored students in Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. And they beat the United States.


a Parents Teachers Administrators	Creating Mathematically Connected Communities
	Middle Grades Mathematics Textbooks Created under Mathstar
Standards Based Resources Assessments Instructional Materials Math Resources NCTM Standards NM Standards and Benchmarks Recursos en Español Research Textbook Adoption Textbook Evaluation Resources Connecting Our Communities Administrators For Parents Maps Math Discussion Boards NM Public Education Department Partners Regional Facilitators Toolkits Curriculum Matrix Implementing CMP MC² Academies General Information Past Academy Resources Upcoming Academies Our Project Contact Information Focus Areas Facilitators » Calendar Workshops Maps Mission News Briefs on Summer Academies Project Reports Regional Facilitators Student Achievement Data Lesson Study SiteMap		A Benchmarks-Based Evaluation There is ample evidence that too few young people emerge from the school systems of this country well educated in science and mathematics. Whatever the case in other countries, the science and mathematics literacy called for in Science for All Americans (American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS], 1989) still evades us in the United States. While there are undoubtedly multiple and complex reasons for this, and no simple remedies, the instructional materials used in the schools are a substantial part of the problem. As Project 2061 has found, and recent data from the Third International Science and Mathematics Study (Schmidt, McKnight, & Raizen, 1997) demonstrate, most curriculum materials suffer from a lack of coherence and focus. It would be a great advantage to educators if they could have ready access to reliable information on how well available textbooks support the specific understandings and skills in science, mathematics, and technology that constitute science literacy. The following evaluations are intended to help mathematics educators make better decisions about which middle grades textbooks would most effectively help their students improve their achievement in mathematics. The results of this evaluation can also help educators use textbooks more effectively by identifying areas where supplemental materials or staff development may be needed. MATHSTAR RECOMMENDATIONS (click on text name to view the textbook evaluation) Connected Mathematics Mathematics in Context MathScape Middle Grades MathThematics ALL EVALUATED TEXTS Index of all evaluated texts Results of Project 2061 Textbooks Evaluation The above information was excerpted from Project 2061 For further information see the following Education Week articles: Algebra Textbooks Come Up Short In Project 2061 Review The review of 12 textbooks found that evaluators determined seven of the books have the potential to help students learn algebra, while five were found to have little potential to do so. Algebra Benefits All Students, Study Finds The Weak Link "The middle school is the crux of the whole problem and really the point where we begin to lose it ... In math and science, the middle grades are an intellectual wasteland." U.S. Schools Importing Singaporean Texts Singaporeans outpaced their counterparts in 39 other countries, including such educational powerhouses as Japan and Taiwan. They also outscored students in Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. And they beat the United States.