Interactive Mathematics Program

By: Alissa Ganci Timothy Slaght

Project Description:

• History – Mathematicians, teacher-educators and teachers developed a new four year curriculum to embody the NCTM Standards designed to replace the traditional program of Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Trigonometry.

See correlation handout

• Philosophy – IMP is an integrated, problem based curriculum that teaches challenging content and emphasizes mathematical reasoning.

– Concentrates on group work and collaboration, usually in groups of four.

– Teacher is seen as the facilitator.

• Design – Four year program.

– Each year is broken into five units.

• Each is designed to take thirty days • Based on a central problem • Includes supplemental problems for gifted students – Assessment ($100) • Daily Homework • POW’s (Problem Of the Week) • In class activities • Presentations • Portfolios – Requires the use of a graphing calculator

Curriculum Outline

• Year 1 The first-year curriculum contains an introduction to problem-solving strategies, the use of variables, and the meaning and use of functions and graphs, as well as concepts from statistics, geometry, and trigonometry. These mathematics ideas are set in varied contexts, such as the settlement of the American West, games of chance, Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum, and measurement of shadows.

• Year 2 Students work with powerful mathematical ideas, including the chi square statistic, the Pythagorean theorem, and linear programming, and learn a variety of approaches to solving equations. Problem contexts include statistical comparison of populations, the geometry of the honeycomb, and maximization of profits from a cookie store.

• Year 3 Students extend their understanding of material studied in preceding years of the curriculum, while learning about and applying new topics such as combinatorics, derivatives, and algebra of matrices. A baseball pennant race, population growth, and decision-making on land use provide some of the contexts for the mathematical concepts.

• Year 4 Fourth-year IMP has a more varied subject matter than a calculus-focused course, and includes topics such as circular functions, computer graphics, and statistical sampling. Units build on the strong knowledge base of students who have completed three years in the program. Problem settings include a Ferris-wheel circus act and election polling.

Examples

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Addressing the 2061 Benchmarks

• I.1 Each unit has a central purpose, that is understandable and motivating to students.

• I.3 Each lesson builds towards answering the unit’s problem.

• III.2 Includes materials that promote first hand experiences.

• V.1 Through oral presentations and write-ups included in the portfolio, students are encouraged to explain their reasoning.

• VII.2 Presented material establishes a challenging classroom.

• VII.3 Group activities promote a sense of belonging and accountability, and generate a want to succeed. ($100)

Evaluation Data

• IMP students take more semesters of math, language arts and science then non-IMP students.

• Significantly higher GPA’s in high school, even after mathematics grades were discounted.

• SAT scores also showed an increase.

• It helps students who score at the low end of the achievement spectrum.

• Even though 20-30% of the curriculum covers topics not on standardized tests, “they are not being harmed by using a non-traditional curriculum.”

Teacher Support and Resources

• Each unit has a teacher’s guide that can be purchased.

• There is the IMP-lementation Center – Supports schools and districts that are using the curriculum – A professional development center – A networking center – Promotes the program to interested districts

Publisher Information

• Key Curriculum Press – To Order the series • Call 1(800) 995-MATH • Visit www.keypress.com

• To Learn more about the series • Call 1(888)Math-IMP • Visit www.mathimp.org

And this series can be yours for

• Year 1 Student Textbook 536 Pages • Shadows Student Textbook (Soft cover) 109 Pages • Patterns Teacher's Guide • The Game of Pig Teacher's Guide 272 Pages 296 Pages • The Overland Trail Teacher's Guide • Pit and the Pendulum Teacher's Guide • Shadows Teacher's Guide • Year 1: Calculator Guide for the TI-81, TI-82, and TI-83 312 Pages 264 Pages 288 Pages 96 Pages $42.95 $7.95 $20.85 $20.85 $20.85 $20.85 $20.85 $14.25

• That’s for only

ONE

year.