Designing Innovative Lessons and Activities for Mathematics Teaching – Due: 11/02/18

$5,000 – The purpose of this grant is to encourage teams of mathematics educators to engage in the process of writing and editing materials for mathematics teachers. The Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Foundation sponsors this grant to support synergy of ideas. Mary Dolciani was a prolific and innovative author of mathematics teaching materials. This grant encourages the time-honored tradition of writing and supports the research showing that collaboration with educators on new ideas can increase the breadth and depth of the mathematics content knowledge of mathematics teaching and learning. It is expected that up to two (2) new grants of $5,000 each will be funded each year. On  receipt of a successful final report(s), grants may be funded at the discretion of the MET Board for a one-year extension up to two times (for a maximum of $15,000 for the lifetime of any grant).

Each grant is for a team of mathematics educators representing the following:
•    Two (2) or more K-8 schools
•    Involving two (2) or more K-8 classroom teachers
•    A mathematics educator from a community college, college, or university

This grant encourages the inclusion of coaches and preservice teachers as a part of the design process.  Each team may also include high school mathematics teachers.

The team will develop and organize a series of activities that can be used on a regular basis (weekly or monthly) to guide students to explore, create, and connect powerful mathematics thinking to their world experiences. Teachers will pilot materials with students, and revise the information as the project progresses.

Activities/projects should provide rich, challenging, relevant, nonroutine, and above- grade-level learning experiences. Some shorter time-line activities should be introduced to students on a regular weekly or biweekly basis with extended projects 3 to 5 times a year. The rich tasks should be designed in collaboration with the entire team of classroom teachers, coaches and the mathematics education faculty.  Designing projects in college teacher-prep courses is encouraged as the challenge of writing activities/projects will benefit the preservice teachers just as the engagement of activities/projects will benefit the elementary school students.

For upper elementary students, career opportunities and preparation for the world of work should also be part of the discussion during the year, perhaps including speakers who actively engage students in some aspect of the work they do as well as explain how mathematics is used.

The activities/projects can run during the summer, during the school year, on weekends, and/or after school for a sufficient period of time to deeply and actively engage students in learning exciting new and interesting mathematical concepts or applications.  Projects may include setting up a mathematics challenge lab that students and their parents can visit regularly or a summer mathematics camp for students with parental participation.  The Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Foundation-MET grant should be used to increase the number of students participating in mathematics projects.

Go to https://www.nctm.org/Grants-and-Awards/Grants/Designing-Innovative-Lessons-and-Activities-for-Mathematics-Teaching-(K–8)/ to apply.