$375,000

The purpose of the MARK project is to build middle school teachers’ capacity to address the Indiana Academic Standards for Mathematics by providing teachers with research-based instructional materials, instructional methods, and ongoing professional development that will help them develop their students’ ability to reasons algebraically, thus equipping middle school students with the essential foundation for learning algebra.

This is a three year project beginning in May, 2007 and concluding in June, 2010

The results of the program will enhance middle school teachers’ knowledge in three ways: 1) deepen their understanding of algebra and algebraic reasoning; 2) develop instructional strategies that promote algebraic reasoning, problem solving, and mathematical discourse; and 3) develop professional learning communities.  As a result of this professional development, the middle school students from three corporations in Northwest Indiana will be better prepared for high school algebra.

Merrillville Community Schools:  fiscal agent and teacher participant in all activities
Crown Point Community Schools:  teacher participant in all activities– providing additional release time for one Master Teacher to be utilized as a Coach and Coach-Facilitator.
School Town of Highland:  teacher participant in all activities

The three corporations have a major commitment toward mathematics reform at the intermediate and middle school levels.  We will update the successes as the project begins to unfold this summer and into the fall.

We look forward to the reporting of many successes of the project once underway.