Program Description Comprehensive middle school mathematics curriculum primarily used in grades 6-8. Development of the curriculum was funded in part by The National Science Foundation. The pedagogy and mathematical content of the program are consistent with the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

History of Mathematics in Context The Mathematics in Context curriculum project was initially funded in 1991 by NSF to develop a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for the middle grades. Collaborating on this project were the research and development teams from the National Center for Research in Mathematical Sciences Education (NCRSME) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the Freudenthal Institute (FI) at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Goals of MiC Mathematics in Context is designed to support the NCTM vision of mathematics education. The program consist of mathematical tasks and questions designed to stimulate mathematical thinking and to promote discussion among students.

In MiC, the learning strands are intertwined and integrated. MiC offers important mathematics. MiC emphasizes basic skill, mathematizing, and reasoning in both lessons and assessments.

How is MiC Different from a Textbook? Mathematics in Context (MiC) builds on and connects to students’ existing knowledge and skills. MiC uses context in two ways – to develop mathematical concepts an ideas and to present areas of application of mathematical ideas and concepts. MiC uses models that support learning.

MiC emphasizes a variety of modes of representation including visualization. The learning lines in MiC progress from informal to preformal to formal. Formal General Referential Situational

CURRICULUM UNITS A full year’s curriculum consists of 9 units. The units are organized and color-coded by grade level. Red: Level 1 Blue: Level 2 Green: Level 3

1 2 3 Models You Can Count On Fraction Times More or Less 1 2 3 N U M B E R S Models You Can Count On Fraction Times More or Less Facts and Factors Ratios and Rates Revisiting Numbers A L G Expressions and Formulas Comparing Quantities Operations Building Formulas Ups and Downs Graphing Equations Patterns and Figures Algebra Rules G M E E O A M A S E N U T D R R E Y M T Figuring All the Angles Reallotment Made to Measure Packages and Polygons Triangles and Beyond It’s All the Same Looking at an Angle D P A R T O A B A A A N B L D I A L Y I S T I Y Picturing Numbers Take a Chance Dealing with Data Second Chance Insights into Data Great Predictions

Explore mathematical relationships; Students are expected to: Explore mathematical relationships;

Develop and explain their own reasoning and strategies for solving problems;

Use problem-solving tools appropriately; and

Listen to, understand, and value each other’s strategies.