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Who we are:

CMSE applies the resources of UNC Chapel Hill to improve K-12 mathematics and science education in North Carolina. Founded in 1981, we're proud to be a unit of the UNC School of Education as well as one of the eleven centers of the NC Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN).

Staff:

Russ Rowlett, Director
Pat Shane, Asso. Director
Dianne Affleck, Asst. Dir. (Pre-College)
Jason Painter, Asst. Dir. (Middle Math.)
Brenda Berry, Asst. Coord. (Pre-College)
Sherry Coble, Program Mgr.
Tammy Siler, Admin. Asst. (Pre-College)
Beverly Sanford, Acct. Tech.

Center for Mathematics and Science Education
309 Peabody Hall
CB# 3500, UNC Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599-3500

voice 919-966-5922
fax 919-962-0588

North Carolina Middle Mathematics Project (NCM²)

Project Resources: Printable Project Summary Project Narrative from Original Proposal Year One Report to NSF (May 31, 2002) Year One Project Evaluation (May 31, 2002) Year Two Report to NSF (May 31, 2003) Year Two Project Evaluation (May 31, 2003) Year Three Report to NSF (May 31, 2004) Year Three Project Evaluation (May 15, 2004) Year Four Report to NSF (May 31, 2005) Year Four Project Evaluation (May 31, 2005)

The North Carolina Middle Math Project (NCM²) is a collaboration between CMSE, the North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The goal is to improve mathematics education in grades 6-8 across the entire state of North Carolina, supporting teachers in their professional development and providing academic renewal and financial recognition to support their retention. Nine NC-MSEN mathematics and science education centers, located throughout the UNC system, have combined their efforts and the talents of faculty, school system administrators, and middle school mathematics teachers.

The project has formed an NCM² Leadership Network combining teams from each NC-MSEN center including university mathematicians, university mathematics educators, school district administrators, and highly qualified middle school mathematics teachers (two teachers from each center). The Leadership Network assists NCDPI in revision of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and in the design and presentation of professional development activities supporting curricular improvements.

The NCM² Project developed a series of three graduate-level courses for middle school mathematics teachers, one each in the content areas of statistics and data analysis, geometry and measurement, and number and algebra. Initial course outlines and planning were done with the full participation of the team members in the spring of 2002. Courses were then designed and offered by the university faculty to the administrators and teachers during summer and fall 2002. The classes were team taught with each faculty member rotating instruction on an hourly basis.

In 2003, the NC-MSEN centers provided these courses to approximately 115 teachers statewide (12-18 teachers in each of the nine regions). The teachers are using this course work in obtaining National Board Certification in Early Adolescence/Mathematics and as the foundation for obtaining master's degrees in middle school mathematics education. Project classes were offered during the academic year to enable teachers to complete additional degree coursework in the summers. Statewide offerings were staggered to enable the teams to refine the courses over the duration of the project.

The project is continuing during 2004-05. The NCM² Leadership Network will be active in assisting NCDPI and participating in statewide leadership activities. The 115 NCM² teachers will receive follow-up support from the MSEN centers as they complete the obtaining National Board Certification process and take additional course work for their master's degrees.

The principal investigators for the NCM² project include:

Dr. Russell J. Rowlett, Director of CMSE

Dr. Sidney L. Rachlin, Professor of Mathematics Education at East Carolina University;

Dr. William Tucci, Chief Consultant in Mathematics and Science for NCDPI; and

Dr. Verna Holoman, Executive Director of NC-MSEN.