Current:  2007-2008
Archive: 2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
Study groups allow teachers and mathematicians to learn from each other and work on topics of mutual interest. These groups meet face-to-face at least once a month, supplemented with classroom visits and electronic communication.
In our first year, significant progress was made in establishing study groups in all 5 districts:
- 15 mathematicians were engaged in study group activities that met at least once a month in the schools.
- 175 (unique) teachers participated in a study group.
- There were 117 study group sessions this first year.
The study group topics are always driven by the needs and concerns of the teachers. Many middle school teachers expressed concern about licensure requirements. As a result, five mathematicians were involved in study groups with a focus on the mathematics of MTEL (Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure) in Lawrence and Chelsea.
Study Group Topics
Middle School
Examples of other study group topics explored in the middle schools, include:
- Patterns, probability, graphs and lattices
- Number puzzles
- Similarity and proportions with geometric models using dynamic geometry
- Lesson study and integers
- Analytic geometry
- Fractions
- Geometry with Sketchpad
- An introduction to probability
- Problem solving on areas, volumes and surface areas
- Algebra, linear & quadratic equations
- Counting arguments
- Spatial visualization
High School
Examples of study group topics that were explored in the high schools include:
- The geometry of fractals
- The mathematics of task design: Pythagorean triples
- Application methods for Eisenstein triples
- The mathematics of voting and related paradoxes
- The mathematics of the Excel spreadsheet
- The mathematics of quilting
- The game of Nim
- Exponentials in calculus and precalculus
Study Group Partnerships, 2003-2004
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