------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Thu, 22 Jan 1998 09:53:37 -0400
From:          [log in to unmask]
Subject:       Mathematical Preparation of Teachers in Middle Grades
 
   A call for examples of outstanding teacher preparation programs:
 
Dear Colleague:
 
As part of its teacher preparation initiative, the U. S. Department of
Education is launching a campaign to highlight promising innovations in
the mathematical preparation of teachers at the upper elementary and
middle school levels.  We are writing to ask you to nominate two or three
programs that should be considered for this initiative.
 
Many studies show that grades 4-9 are especially crucial for student
performance and interest in mathematics.  These grades are where students
should make the transition from arithmetic to algebra, yet it is
precisely here that average student performance declines.  For this
reason, it is especially crucial for mathematicians in colleges and
universities to focus on teacher preparation at these levels.
 
The Department of Education initiative seeks programs for preparing
teachers in the middle grades that have pioneered practices that should be
of interest to college and university mathematicians.  Potential areas of
innovation include programs that:
--  Join mathematics and science;
--  Use technology appropriately and imaginatively;
--  Increase numbers of minority mathematics teachers;
--  Encourage collaboration between education and mathematics departments;
--  Support positive attitudes about mathematics, especially among girls;
--  Operate primarily at two-year colleges;
--  Highlight mathematics in the world of work;
--  Feature problems and competitions;
--  Use newly developed curricular materials.
We welcome examples of other innovations not on this preliminary list.
 
Please take a few moments to think of two or three teacher preparation
programs that have potential for making significant improvement in the
teaching of mathematics in the middle grades.  You can reply by return
e-mail with just a few sentences about each program:
--  Why is it important?
--  Why is it innovative?
--  Why should it be of interest to mathematicians?
The name and e-mail address (or telephone number) of a contact person
would be most helpful.  We need to receive nominations before January 30.
 
We (SLF and LAS) are working with Carole Lacampagne at the Department of
Education to gather and coordinate resources for this project. We
appreciate your attention to this matter and thank you in advance for any
suggestion you have to offer.
 
Susan L.Forman <[log in to unmask]>
Lynn Steen <[log in to unmask]>