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Project MATH
Making Achievements in the Twenty-first century Happen RESA II/Marshall University
The RESA 2 Project MATH Grant is a NSF Math Science Partnership Grant that is just entering its 2nd year. The grant is a partnership between RESA 2 and Marshall University that is intended to raise the understanding of math for students in the five counties involved in this program: Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, and Wayne. Project MATH provides the 31 grant teachers math content training and book studies that emulate 21st century teaching strategies.
Kelly Watts is the grant director. She is assisted by Dr. Dee Cockrille, RESA 2 Executive Director; Dale Blevins, RESA 2 Math Mentor; Dr. Elizabeth Murray, MU Forensics Expert; Dr. Alfred Akinsete, MU Math Content Specialist; Judith Silver, MU Math Content Specialist; Janice Clary, Wayne County Math Coach; Linda Murray, RESA 2 Project Secretary; and Rachel Bias, RESA 2 Executive Secretary.
In year one of the grant the emphasis was on probability and statistics. A unit was offered around a fictional murder called “The Mystery of Lyle and Louise”. Teachers, and then their students, were asked to read the story and then use DNA collected to come to conclusions about the crime. Lab kits were purchased that allowed students to run DNA samples through gel and use the alleles to match known suspects to various crime scenes. These labs were very successful in showing students a link between math and real world situations. At least 3 newspapers and one TV station did articles documenting the student’s responses.
Project MATH is unique in that we mix 19 math certified teachers with 12 special education teachers. This wide range of math experience in our participating teachers is often what is found among the students in their classrooms. By being sure to address the needs of both groups we prepare them to do the same. Both groups become one and each participant provides something to our group.
The book studied in year one was Dynamic Classroom Assessment. We will continue that study in year two. During our 2 week long summer institutes, our 4 day long mini institutes, and our 8 two hour long PLC meetings in each county; we introduce our participants to many ideas about best teaching practices for math. The group favorite has to be Dr. John Strebe whose energy, compassion for teaching, and cooperative learning techniques energize everyone.
The success of year one was proven by pre/post test comparisons for both teachers and their students to those teachers and students in our control group. The success was even more evident in the positive comments from the students.
The second year the grant emphasized algebra and measurement. The story of Lyle and Louise was revisited with the use of blood spatters instead of DNA. Students created prediction formulas for blood trajectories based on different heights and angles of impact. From this they constructed the scene of the crime and made conjectures about how the murders took place. Cardboard cabins and converging strings that model the path of the blood helped them in this second attempt to solve the mystery.
The pre and post test results from year two for both teachers and students were again better than those of the control group.
We begin year three of the Project MATH Grant with high hopes that the teachers involved are more knowledgeable in the math content they deliver daily to their students, in the various ways to deliver that content, and in their ability to assess the effectiveness of their teaching. If improvements have been made in these areas, improved learning will result and the goals of the grant will have been achieved. We plan to emphasize geometry, conics, and recursion this year. The book we will use in our Professional Learning Communities will be Fostering Geometric Thinking.
Three of our 31 original teachers had to leave the grant due to a job change, a retirement, and a busy schedule. The remaining 28 have returned and 2 new additions to the group have been made. Kelly, Janice, Alfred, and Dale are ready to facilitate. Year three has begun.
Project Design Template - Revised WebQuest Dreamland Pool
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