EXEMPLARY SECONDARY MATHEMATICS CURRICULA

1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: 240 HOURS OF TRAINING

(60 HOURS PER YEAR X 4 YEARS)

a. New Mathematical Content e.g., statistics, probability

b. Novel Problems in Unfamiliar Contexts

c. Inquiry-Based, “Active Learning” Instruction

d. Graphing Calculators Used Extensively

e. Alternative Assessments

2. CLASSROOM MENTORING VISITS OVER 4 YEARS: 50 HOURS PER TEACHER

a. Demonstration Lessons

b. Pre and Post-class conferencing

c. Quality Assurance

3. TIME FOR TEACHER-TO-TEACHER COLLABORATION & NETWORKING

a. Joint-Planning Period During or After School

b. National and Local List Serves

4. TEACHER COMPENSATION/INCENTIVES

a. 10 in-service days per year at 6 hours per day.

b. Extra planning to learn and teach new material

c. Student-teacher assignments

5. REGULAR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL ADMINSTRATORS

a. Budgeting;

b. Teacher, student recruitment issues;

c. Appropriate teacher and student roster configurations;

d. Transfer, absentee and retention issues;

e. Classroom materials, books, calculators requisitions;

f. Student testing and college preparation issues;

g. National information updates

h. Public relations, informational presentations

6. APPROPRIATE TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS & STAFF STABILITY

7. DISTRICT PLICY AND RESOURCE ALIGNMENT

a. New Hires and Transfers

b. Teacher evaluation criteria

c. Testing formats and accountability policy

d. School-based and district resource alignment

8. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR EACH SCHOOL SITE

9. MECHANISMS FOR RECRUITING NEW TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS

10. HIGHER EDUCATION ARTICULATION

a. Admissions

b. New Teacher Preparation

c. Accessing Collegiate Resources

F. Joseph Merlino, Project Director

Greater Philadelphia Secondary Mathematics Project, June 1999