Number Sense, Operations, Measurement & Data, Algebra, Geometry, Problem Solving, Statistics
6th—8th
Description

Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) is a math curriculum for students in grades 6–8. It uses interactive problems and everyday situations to explore mathematical ideas, with a goal of fostering a problem-centered, inquiry-based learning environment.

Features

The overarching goal of CMP is to help students and teachers develop mathematical knowledge, understanding, and skill along with an awareness of and appreciation for the rich connections among mathematical strands and between mathematics and other disciplines.  In CMP, students move exibly between graphic, numeric, symbolic, and verbal representations to develop fluency in conceptual and procedural knowledge.

CMP is an inquiry-based mathematics curriculum. Mathematical ideas are embedded in sequenced sets of tasks and explored in depth to help students develop a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts. Throughout the curriculum, students focus on problem-solving strategies, communicating their reasoning, offering proofs, and using representations.

CMP includes four courses: Grade 6, 7, & 8 Mathematics and Algebra I. Each course is organized into units, with seven to eight units per course. Units are organized around a mathematical concept or set of related concepts, such as area and perimeter, or operations on fractions.

Student materials include print student editions and Student Place. Student Place includes an ACTIVe-book for each Unit, which is an online version of the student edition with digital tools for students to be able to write and type right in the book. Student Place also includes digital math tools and student activities, as well as a digital version of the glossary with audio support.

Teachers have access to Teacher Place or the printed teacher guides and resources for support. The teacher support for each unit includes a discussion of the mathematics underlying the Investigations, mathematical and problem-solving goals for each Investigation, planning charts, standards correlations, connections to other Units, in-depth teaching notes, answers, labsheets, teaching aids, parent letters, and an extensive assessment package.

The teacher support engages teachers in a conversation about what is possible in the classroom around a particular lesson. Suggestions are made about how to engage the students in the mathematics task in the launch, how to promote student thinking and reasoning during the exploration of the Problem, and how to summarize with the students the important mathematics embedded in the Problem. Support for this Launch–Explore–Summarize sequence occurs for each Problem in the curriculum.

Multiple kinds of assessment are included in the program (i.e. formative, summative). Student assessments mirror classroom practices and highlight important concepts, skills, techniques, and problem-solving strategies.

Research Summary

What Works Clearinghouse


Information on this entry was adapted from US Department of Education. (2017). Connected Mathematics. WWC Intervention Report. Retrieved from https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/InterventionReports/wwc_cmp_021417.pdf

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