Teacher training to focus on new statewide standards in mathematics education

Public school teachers in Beaufort, Pitt and Hyde County will attend a professional development program on newly adopted state standards for mathematics education, June 20-23 at the Beaufort County Educational Technology Center in Washington, N.C.
The program is designed to help teachers understand and incorporate new common core requirements for mathematics that will apply to all North Carolina K-12 classrooms beginning in the 2012-13 academic year.  It was developed through a collaboration between nine teacher leaders and the Beaufort County School System, along with East Carolina University’s Department of Mathematics; Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education; and Department of Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education.
The Common Core for State Standards in Mathematics requirements were adopted after research showed inadequacies in mathematic achievement in the United States. The core materials define what students should understand and be able to do in mathematics at each grade level. The guidelines also address performance in areas such as problem-solving, reasoning, argumentation, application to real life and strategic use of available mathematic tools.
Teachers will need to update their skill sets to incorporate the new standards, and this training should help them do that. Through funding from NC Quest Cycle VIII, more than 25 teachers will participate in the program.
Sessions will include hands-on activities at different grade levels in data and measurement, numbers, algebra and geometry. Teachers who complete the program should leave with materials they can use in the next school year.
For additional information about the professional development program, contact Roger Conner at 252-328-6922 or e-mail connerr@ecu.edu.
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