A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience Students in the fifth through eighth grades of all ability levels.

Description The Maneuvers with Mathematics (MWM) program is designed to address the deficiencies in mathematical learning in the middle grades. It offers hands-on, problem-solving activities and makes full use of the scientific calculator as a tool to enable students to investigate. Each MWM module is a set of investigations, problems, and other learning activities that involves a specific body of mathematics. Students solve problems, make conjectures, reason, investigate mathematical relationships, look for connections among mathematical quantities, and use manipulatives. As they proceed, they communicate with each other and with their teacher about their thinking and ideas. The activities in a module engage students, stimulate their thinking, and make math interesting. MWM materials also incorporate several innovative techniques to help students gauge their own progress. The materials offer clear teaching plans, yet also encourage teachers to follow leads from student suggestions or from their own ideas. When MWM materials are coupled with a staff development program, teachers develop rich math classrooms that encourage discourse about mathematics, multiple solution paths to problems, and open-ended investigation. They serve as a means to stimulate and challenge a broad spectrum of students-- including those who previously experienced little success in mathematics. At this time, seven modules are available: Maneuvers With Angles, Maneuvers With Rectangles, Maneuvers With Triangles, Maneuvers With Circles, Maneuvers With Nickels and Numbers, Maneuvers With Number Patterns, and Maneuvers With Fractions. MWM addresses National Educational Goals 3 and 5.

Evidence of Effectiveness When compared to a control group of fifth through eighth grade students, MWM students demonstrated significantly higher growth on a post-test consisting primarily of items from the Second International Mathematics Study and the National Assessment of Education Progress.

Requirements Teachers and administrators are encouraged to design a staff development workshop that fits their needs working with MWM staff. No special facilities are required.

Costs Start-up staff development costs include: an instructor ($400/day), travel expenses for an instructor, and teacher materials ($25/teacher/module); there are no annual operating costs. The start-up and annual operating implementation costs include student lab books ($150/class of 30). The cost of calculators, rulers and similar materials are costs that will be incurred either by the school or student.

Services The provision of follow-up support nationwide is being reviewed; in the Chicago area such support is being provided through various organizations.

Contact

David A. Page, Project Director and Kathryn B. Chval, Associate Project Director, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 851 S. Morgan Street, (m/c 249) SEO 1309, Chicago, IL 60607-7045. (312) 996-8708.

Developmental Funding: National Science Foundation
PEP No. 94-3 (4/1/94)

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[First Level Mathematics (Kindermath)]

[Mathematics Achievement through Problem Solving (MAPS)]