Pearson Offers Florida Schools Innovative Math Programs Aligned to New State Standards

K-12 Curriculum Centered Around Interactive Problem-Solving and Visual learning; "Different by Design" Programs Will Prepare All Sunshine State Students for Higher Level Math

The K-12 math programs that Pearson has developed for our state's students are different by design -- they align to the new standards, engage and motivate students, and allow teachers to differentiate instruction to ensure that all students stay on track to build a comprehensive foundation in math.

The new Florida math standards make it very clear that the next generation of curriculum materials for the state needs to raise the bar in two areas --problem solving and conceptual understanding

Research demonstrates that problem-based, interactive learning is necessary for students to develop these critical math skills. These teaching methodologies are at the core of our programs.

Pearson is committed to ensuring that Florida teachers have access to professional development to ensure that they are prepared to implement the new math standards and teach effectively with our new math programs. We have developed a number of state-specific offerings to ensure that teachers have all of the resources they need for success.

Tallahassee, Fla. (PRWEB) May 7, 2009 -- When Florida launches its new math standards in the fall of 2010, students will learn in an environment designed to give them a 21st century foundation in math. This week the education and technology company, Pearson, submitted a comprehensive suite of K-12 math programs to the Florida State Board of Education. The elementary, middle, and high school offerings are centered on interactive problem-solving and building a conceptual understanding of mathematics, and all are directly aligned to the new Sunshine State Math Standards.

Pearson's Vice President for Florida Debbie Campbell said, "Florida has long been a national leader in educational innovation. Today, our state's graduation rates are climbing and a record number of students are taking college entrance exams. The debut of the state's new math standards -- aligned to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Focal Points -- marks another step forward in ensuring that all Florida students build the problem-solving skills and conceptual understanding needed for learning higher level math and succeeding in college and life."

She continued, "The K-12 math programs that Pearson has developed for our state's students are different by design -- they align to the new standards, engage and motivate students, and allow teachers to differentiate instruction to ensure that all students stay on track to build a comprehensive foundation in math."

Pearson's K-12 math programs are authored by some of the nation's most respected experts, including Dr. Francis "Skip" Fennell, a member of the President's National Mathematics Advisory Panel and immediate past president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Dr. Randall Charles, past vice president of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics and Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics at San Jose State University; and visual learning expert Stuart J. Murphy, author of the award-winning children's MathStart book series that presents mathematical concepts in the context of stories. In addition, the inquiry-based learning approach featured in the K-12 math curriculum is based on the work of renowned mathematics expert, the late Dr. John A. Van de Walle.

"The new Florida math standards make it very clear that the next generation of curriculum materials for the state needs to raise the bar in two areas --problem solving and conceptual understanding," said Dr. Charles, one of the lead authors on the Pearson K-12 math curriculum for Florida. "Research demonstrates that problem-based, interactive learning is necessary for students to develop these critical math skills. These teaching methodologies are at the core of our programs."

The following Pearson programs expected to be approved and available to Florida schools in fall 2010 are:

In addition, supplemental materials such as the new DimensionM immersive video game from Tabula Digita, powered by Pearson, and MathXL® for School, are being designed to specifically map to the Florida math curriculum programs. Now under development, DimensionM will feature content customized for Pearson's math programs for Florida's elementary and middle school students. The interactive, 3D gaming format takes students on action-packed missions featuring adventures embedded with critical mathematics concepts from Pearson's research-based curriculum. The immersive digital game experience creates a virtual reality that motivates students to learn mathematics, develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, increases time on task, and draws on mathematics content students learn in class.

All Florida high school curriculum programs are offered with the additional option of MathXL® for School, the most widely used online homework, tutorial and assessment system in U.S. colleges and universities and now available to the high school market. MathXL for School also offers universal courses for Algebra Readiness, Algebra 2, ADP (American Diploma Project) Algebra II and College Readiness. Courses in Algebra I and ADP Algebra I will be available in the summer 2009.

Pearson's Debbie Campbell said, "Pearson is committed to ensuring that Florida teachers have access to professional development to ensure that they are prepared to implement the new math standards and teach effectively with our new math programs. We have developed a number of state-specific offerings to ensure that teachers have all of the resources they need for success."

Campbell noted that through innovative offerings, such as the myPearsonTraining.com on-demand professional development Web site, and numerous other workshops and resources, teachers will have access to the instructional strategies and best practices that they need to maximize their district's investments in the new math programs.

For more information about Pearson and its support for math education in Florida, visit www.floridamathcrosswalk.com, an interactive Web site developed to offer teachers activities for teaching to the current math standards and making the transition to the new standards. The site includes videos, visual learning animations, problem-based interactive learning activities, and printables, games and puzzles so that teachers can familiarize themselves with what to expect in the future without sacrificing content they need for their students today.

About Pearson and Florida
Pearson (NYSE:PSO) has been providing learning materials to Florida schools for more than 100 years. As the world's leading education and technology company, you may know us individually as Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, Longman, SuccessMaker, NovaNet, PowerSchool, SuccessNet, and so many more - names in the world of education that are recognized and respected across the state and the globe. We provide education and testing materials from birth through professional learning as well as the complex management systems that maintain student information data for thousands of schools. Our Pearson people are living and working in every school district across the state, and visiting teachers, principals and curriculum directors every single day. In fact, most teachers in Florida have learned their profession by studying with Pearson's Merrill or Allyn & Bacon textbooks, and many have benefited from our professional development programs.

We are your education partners today, tomorrow and for the future and will continue to invest in the very best instructional materials, teacher education, technology advancements, and services to help you and your students achieve success for generations to come. Like Florida's educators, we are stable, resilient and unwavering in our commitment to our children. The challenges of today's economy will not deter us from our mission to create innovative educational solutions customized to align with Florida's standards for 21st century learning. For more information, visit www.floridamathcrosswalk.com or www.pearsonschool.com.

Contact:
kate.miller(at)pearson.com
800-745-8489

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