EVERYDAY MATH INFORMATION

The State Board of Education required Texas school districts to adopt new textbooks in Elementary Mathematics (Grades K – 5) for

the 2008-09 school year. The Eanes ISD Board of Trustees approved the recommendation of the Eanes ISD elementary math textbook

adoption committee and adopted Texas Everyday Mathematics. Eanes elementary students are now using Everyday Math.

Recently, a few parents have expressed concerns and asked questions about Everyday Math. One of the great strengths of EISD is

involved parents. We are happy that parents are taking an interest in the new math textbook and want our students to have a high

quality math program. EISD shares that goal; we want an exemplary elementary math program.

A committee of 12 teachers (2 per elementary campus) studied all of the instructional materials adopted by the State Board over a five

month period. The committee examined nine textbooks through a thorough and purposeful process. All elementary teachers provided

input and feedback throughout the process. The committee determined that Texas Everyday Mathematics was the best option for

EISD students because it is a rigorous, research-based textbook that emphasizes inquiry and problem solving.

Key factors for the decision included:

        • The committee used two documents, Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, and Curriculum Focal Points

            for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics, both published by the National Council of Teachers of

            Mathematics, as guides to the essential components of a high-quality school mathematics program.

          • Everyday Mathematics was not developed by a traditional textbook publishing company. The National Science

            Foundation provided a grant to develop a rigorous math program and the University of Chicago School Mathematics

            Project developed the curriculum over a three-year period that included extensive field-testing.

        • The reviewed research provided strong evidence that Everyday Math is effective. Everyday Math was rated higher

            than any other elementary math program (73 total) in the What Works Clearinghouse report by the Institute of

            Education Sciences in the U.S. Department of Education.

        • The Everyday Math curriculum had been successfully used for three years at Forest Trail Elementary.

        Everyday Mathematics has its critics and is considered controversial by some people. There are two areas that we want to briefly

        address. First, it is true that the State Board did not approve the third grade Texas Everyday Mathematics book. The committee was

        fully aware of the State Board’s decision. The committee was, also, aware that the third grade book had been approved by the statelevel

        Textbook Review Panel and recommended by the Texas Education Agency. The State Board rejected the third -grade book

        without providing a reason even though the book met 100% of the curriculum standards and other requirements.

        Second, Everyday Mathematics is different. For many parents (and teachers) the non-traditional approach to math education causes

        concern. It is a change and change is almost always difficult. Changing textbooks and teaching materials is especially challenging.

        The committee seriously discussed the impact of changing texts on EISD teachers and how parents would respond to a non-traditional

        approach. In the end, it was decided that even though a major curriculum change is not easy, a new approach that emphasizes problem

        solving, reasoning, making connections, and communication, was what we needed to improve math instruction for our students.

        We hope this information answers some of the questions and concerns. Over the next few weeks, we will provide additional

        information about Texas Everyday Mathematics. Some of our elementary schools will have a session for parents to provide more

        information and demonstrate some of the strategies and games that students are learning.

        Thank you.

        Bill Bechtol

        Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction