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May 2012

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Connected Math

Grades: 6-8

Connected Mathematics Project

Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) is a full math curriculum for middle-school grades 6-8. It is problem-centered, designed for classroom use, and based on NCTM standards.

The program seeks to make connections within mathematics, between mathematics and other subject areas, and to the real world. Each unit of the curriculum contains investigations or expolorations to be done in class. Then, extensive problem sets are included for each investigation to help students practice, apply, connect, and extend these understandings.

CMP helps students and teachers develop understanding of important mathematical concepts, skills, procedures, and ways of thinking and reasoning, in number, geometry, measurement, algebra, probability and statistics.

Prices: As of 2010, this curriculum is published by Pearson. Each student unit $8.97 (there are 8 per grade). Each teacher guide $20.97 (there are 8 per grade).

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Reviews of CMP Math

Connected Math Program II
Time: 4 years

Your situation: I teach in a public school. CMP was adopted as our core curriculum around 4 years ago.

Why you liked/didn't like the book: It has some really good critical thinking problems and some unique ways of addressing topics (the fraction strips for 6th graders really help to get the idea across. A good supplement to a traditional text.

I find that it lacks several key components that to my way of thinking are essential in a true textbook (which I believe should be organized in such a way that a child can teach him/her self the subject if they are motivated to do so). Problems I have with CMP:
1) No examples that students can refer to for review and to teach themselves if they are so inclined.
2) No skill practice problems with answers to odd numbered problems in the main book--very nice for students who are inclined to either work ahead or to self remediate.
3) Organization is not user friendly---the hardback edition has multiple glossaries, indexes, and more than 1 of every page number due to the fact that it is a compilation of "mini" books.
4) Problems do not "stand alone" as they are based on whatever game or hands-on exercise was introduced in the investigation.

CMP introduces concepts and then spirals on them without really focusing on mastery of anything, and basic computation skills are not emphasized to the extent that I would like. Long division is not addressed. For the person checking student work, the teacher's edition is a nightmare.

Any other helpful hints: Get the additional practice and the exam book so that you have some things for practice. Get a good math dictionary so your child can find words without having to figure out which unit they may be listed with.

Cindy Anderson

Review left September 13, 2011

Time: 4 years

I had to use this curriculum because certain families thought that it would be helpful, since they were using it in the schools. After seeing their children struggle and hearing them complain about the series, we decided to change to another curriculum.

Connected Math assumes that the child has a good base in math. It does not take into account that a child may have problems in certain areas of math. It is mostly a group solving situation and does not really give the student a good understanding of math theory.

You must have a strong foundation in math such as adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplication to begin with. Leaving a child alone to solve the problem based on what you presented to them as an Introductory session, will not be enough for them to continue the lesson on their own.

MIKE CARDENAS
Review left January 5, 2010

Go back to homeschool mathematics curricula list

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