Will Your Child Be Ready For High

School And College Mathematics?

For More Information

Todays standards-based mathematics programs are

designed to help your child learn the mathematics
needed in high school, in college and in the workplace.
High school and college teachers of mathematics want
students who can think, reason and apply mathematics.
Employers want workers who are willing and able
to solve problems, work with their fellow employees,
and communicate their thinking. Young people need
to prepare for an ever-changing workplace and
technological society. Flexible problem solving,
working collaboratively are among skills that will
help them thrive.

The Show-Me Project provides information and resources

to support the selection and implementation of the
following standards-based middle grades mathematics
curricula:

Standards-based mathematics curriculum materials

have been designed to help address the needs of both
continuing study of mathematics and preparation for
the workplace.

What Kind Of Results

Should You Expect?
Results indicate that students are benefiting from
the balanced approach described here. Students in
classrooms that utilize standards-based curriculum
materials and instructional techniques do well on
traditional achievement tests. And new tests using
open-ended response formats show strong gains
in conceptual understanding as well as procedural
skills .

Show-Me Project

Connected Mathematics Project, Prentice-Hall

Math Scape, Creative Publications
MATH Thematics, McDougal Littell
Mathematics in Context, Encyclopaedia Brittanica
Pathways to Algebra & Geometry, Voyager
Expanded Learning
To learn more about these curricula, or to download
a copy of this brochure for unlimited duplication, see:
http://showmecenter.missouri.edu
The U.S. Department of Education
An excellent source of national information with
searchable topics database.
http://www.ed.gov/
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN
National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
The primary professional organization for teachers of
mathematics in grades K12, NCTM provides broad
national information in matters related to mathematics
education.
http://www.nctm.org/
Phone: (703) 620-9840
Figure This!
A parent-oriented website with regularly updated
problems and challenges to do with your children.
http://www.figurethis.org

Permission is granted to duplicate this brochure

for educational purposes.

Mathematics
Education
& Your Child:
What Parents Should Know

Whats Happening In Todays

Mathematics Classrooms?
Children should experience mathematics as an
interesting, relevant and important field of study
in their school classroom.
When you were in school, you probably learned
mathematics skills by observing the teacher and then
practicing the skill many times. While mathematical
skills are still very important, todays school mathematics
programs also include attention to learning how to
reason, solve problems, and apply understanding and
skills to solve a range of real problems.
In todays classrooms you will see students actively
involved with mathematics. You might see students:
working on complex problems that cant be solved
within a single lesson.
measuring, making graphical displays, building
models.
using textbooks as well as computers, calculators
and manipulatives.
explaining how they got an answer until other
students and the teacher understand.

What Curriculum Standards

Or Guidelines Are Being Used To
Ensure Your Child Receives A HighQuality Mathematics Education?
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(NCTM) published comprehensive curriculum standards
for mathematics education in 1989 and updated them
in 2000 as the Principles and Standards for School
Mathematics (PSSM). Based on years of experience
and research, the PSSM serve as a guide for teachers
and administrators in creating high quality mathematics
programs. School mathematics programs that are
developed based on the NCTM standards documents
are often referred to as standards-based mathematics
programs. PSSM includes a set of principles that describe
important features of any high-quality mathematics
program. Among these principles is a commitment to
equitythe idea that all students deserve a high-quality,
challenging mathematics program. At the middleschool level (grades 6-8), standards-based programs
emphasize five mathematical strands:
1) Number including the ability to compute fluently
with fractions, decimals and percents

working in groups and also on their own.

2) Geometry including coordinate and transformational geometry

You will also see teachers observing students and

asking probing questions in addition to lecturing and
leading discussions.

3) Measurement including developing area

formulas for complex shapes

The goal is a learning environment in which all students

learn important mathematics. Todays mathematics
programs should help your child:
understand mathematics and communicate about it.
know when, where, and how mathematics is used.
apply concepts and skills to solve problems.
appreciate mathematics as an important area
of study and way of thinking.

4) Algebra including using symbols, equations and

graphs to represent and solve problems
5) Statistics and Probability including analyzing
data and creating sample spaces for complicated
probabilities
The NCTM standards also emphasize that middle grade
students should advance their ability to reason and
justify ideas, be able to communicate using mathematical
symbols and precision, and connect mathematics to
the real world.

What Can You Do To Support Your

Childs Mathematical Education?
Your support makes a big difference in your childs
success in mathematics. Consider these suggestions
At Home
1) Talk with your child about whats going
on in mathematics class.
2) Look for ways to link mathematical learning to
daily activities. Encourage your child to figure out
the amounts for halving a recipe, estimating gas
mileage, or figuring a restaurant tip. Share your
strategies with them and ask them about their
thinking strategies.
3) Encourage your child to schedule a regular time
for homework and provide a comfortable place for
their study, free from distractions.
4) Monitor your childs homework on a regular basis
by looking at one problem or asking your child to
briefly describe the focus of the homework. When
your child asks for help, work with them instead
of doing the problem for them.
At School
1) Attend Open House, Back-to-School Night, and
other school events.
2) Consider scheduling a private conference with
the mathematics teacher to encourage open lines
of communication. Ask the teacher what the goals
of the class are, what kinds of assessments are
used. Ask what you can do to help your child.
3) Be a volunteer in your childs school or classroom.
4) Join the local parent-teacher organization so that
your voice can be heard and so that you can
support the efforts of teachers and administrators.