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Outreach for Parents and Students
We hope to inform parents and their children about the importance of taking math throughout their four years of high school. We are currently working with some Whatcom County school districts in organizing community math nights to help students and parents understand what it means to be college ready in math. Part of our outreach efforts are to find out what local communities think about math and then resolve to overcome any anxieties or misconceptions that might be associated with math.
Professional Development
This year we are hosting a series of Lesson Writing Workshops for Whatcom County high school mathematics teachers and college instructors. At least two teachers from each of the high schools and community and technical colleges in Whatcom County are participating in the project. Math educators have written their lesson plans based on the College Readiness Mathematic Standards and have submitted them to three proof readers, a peer review, staff review, and review by an assessment expert. The finished lessons will then be packaged in a CD format and distributed statewide for mathematic teachers to access and use. Along with the lessons, a DVD will be created that highlights one of the teachers teaching their lesson in the classroom.
Product Development
The College Readiness Mathematics Standards (CRMS) were completed in March 2006 by a core group of Washington State math and non-math educators through the Transition Math Project. Each of the Standards defines the core knowledge and skills expected of students entering college-level mathematics courses. The CRMS also includes Student Attributes which describe a set of student characteristics that math educators agreed were essential to succeeding in college-level mathematics classes. Last year, math teachers from Whatcom County high schools suggested that the Standards and Student Attributes be available in a poster format so they could more easily use this as a reference tool in their classroom. WCMP took on this project and created the CRMS Posters in conjunction with a statewide collaborative effort of high school and college math instructors. The purpose was to not only create a useful tool for educators, but also illustrate the Standards and Attributes in a visually attractive format with student-friendly language that would be accessible to students, parents, and the community.
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