First-of-Its-Kind Elementary School Math Curriculum Meets the iPod Generation on...

First-of-Its-Kind Elementary School Math Curriculum Meets the iPod Generation
on Its Turf
enVisionMATH Combines Digital Animations, Visual Learning to Build Innovative
Program for 21st Century Learners

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- America's students are growing up
in a digital world of iPods, the Internet, instant messaging and computer
games, but, until now, they have all been "powering down" when they enter the
classroom. Today, with Pearson's launch of enVisionMATH schools can offer
elementary students a program that meets them on their own turf with a
curriculum that combines visual animation and next-generation technologies to
engage and entertain students while providing a comprehensive foundation in
math skills that will prepare them for success in the 21st century economy.
Debuting at the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) in
Orlando this week, enVisionMATH was developed by Scott Foresman and the
nation's top math experts in conceptual development, problem-solving and
visual learning instructional strategies in collaboration with classroom
teachers. Four years in the making, enVisionMATH is a research-based program
that blends visual animations and compelling graphic text centered on
conceptual understanding and helping students develop their reasoning ability
for problem-solving -- the critical foundation for higher level math they will
need to succeed in college and in their careers, according to enVisionMATH
author Dr. Randy Charles, Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics, San
Jose State University, and past Vice President of the National Council of
Supervisors of Mathematics.
With its engaging graphics and compelling animations, teachers can easily
personalize enVisionMATH instruction for all students regardless of learning
style or special needs. The program also has specific components -- including
the visual and interactive learning components -- designed for those students
who are learning basic English at the same time they are learning math.
Published in both English and Spanish, enVisionMATH's strong, visual
learning design includes a Visual Learning Bridge in each lesson, with step-
by-step visuals that bridge the gap between the interactive learning activity
and guided practice. "With the digital Visual Learning Animations, the
concepts come alive for students," said Dr. Charles. He added, "Through its
print and digital Visual Learning Bridge, enVisionMATH allows elementary math
teachers to take advantage of all teachable moments and help students build
conceptual understanding and reasoning as well as problem-solving skills."
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, guided the development of the print and online Visual
Learning Bridge for enVisionMATH. Murphy has devoted his entire career to
exploring how students acquire information from visual stimuli such as graphs,
charts, diagrams, models, illustrations and photos. "When you put verbal
information together with visual presentations and add mathematical concepts,
it leads to comprehension for all students," said Murphy. "And that is what
enVisionMATH is all about."
This first-of-its kind standards-based curriculum blending digital and
print content includes daily differentiated instruction and was developed in
collaboration with a team of math teachers. In response to teachers' demands,
the program is organized into 20 focused topics at each grade level using a
revolutionary, easy-to-use teaching system that places all of the materials
for each topic in one place. Animated topic tutorials, video topic openers,
whiteboard-ready resources, eTools and online editions help students of all
learning styles and abilities access content and allow teachers to easily
customize instruction. With assessment and prescriptions embedded throughout
enVisionMATH, teachers can individualize instruction for students, ensuring
they grasp each concept before moving on to the next lesson.
Skip Fennell, President of the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics, has said that the country today is faced with the mixed message
of the highest mathematics scores in history on the 4th and 8th grade National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which may or may not map onto
individual state mathematics proficiency levels, and the increasing need to
develop the most foundational mathematics concepts and skills prior to student
entree to higher level mathematics at the higher school, or increasingly,
middle school level.
In 2008, U.S. states and school districts will invest more than $650
million in elementary mathematics programs. Yet, recent studies conducted by
the National Council on Educational Statistics (NCES), as well as the noted
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) reveal that U.S.
students continue to lag behind in international comparisons of mathematics
achievement. enVisionMATH is aimed at reversing these results. In addition
to Charles and Murphy, other enVisionMATH authors are:

-- Dr. Francis "Skip" Fennell (Algebra), Professor of Education, McDaniel
College, Maryland and President, National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics
-- Dr. Nita Copley (Conceptual Development for Grades K-6), Chair,
Curriculum and Instruction Dept. College of Education, University of
Houston, Texas
-- Dr. Janet H. Caldwell (Conceptual Development for Grades 3-5),
Professor of Mathematics, Rowan University, New Jersey
-- Dr. Mary Cavanaugh (Primary Conceptual Development), San Diego County
Office of Education, California
-- Dinah Chancellor (Primary Conceptual Development), Carroll Independent
School District, Southlake, Texas
-- Dr. Warren Crown (Technology), Associate Dean of Academic Affairs,
Rutgers University, New Jersey
-- Kay B. Sammons (Differentiated Instruction), Coordinator of Elementary
Mathematics, Howard County Public Schools, Maryland
-- Dr. Janie Schielack (Measurement and Geometry), Associate Dean for
Assessment and PreK-12 Education, Texas A&M University
-- Dr. Bill Tate (Research), Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University
Professor in Arts & Sciences, Washington University, St, Louis,
Missouri
-- Dr. John Van de Walle (Conceptual Development), Professor Emeritus,
Mathematics Education, Virginia Commonwealth University

Consulting authors are:

-- Charles R. Allan, Mathematics Education Consultant -- Retired, Michigan
Department of Education, Lansing
-- Dr. Veronica Galvan Carlan (Language of Math) author of Early Childhood
Mathematics Profile (students aged 3-11)
-- Jeanne F. Ramos (Algebra), Secondary Mathematics Coordinator, Los
Angeles Unified School District, California

ELL consultants/reviewers are:

-- Dr. Jim Cummins (English Language Learning), Professor, The University
of Toronto, Canada
-- Alma B. Ramirez (English Language Learning) Senior Research Associate,
Mathematics Case Methods Project, West Ed, Oakland, California

For more information or to see a demo of enVisionMATH, go to
www.enVisionMATH.com
About Pearson
Pearson is the global leader in educational publishing, assessment,
information and services, helping people of all ages to learn at their own
pace, in their own way. For students preK-12, Pearson provides effective and
innovative curriculum products in all available media, educational assessment
and measurement for students and teachers, student information systems, and
teacher professional development and certification programs. The company's
respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, AGS, PowerSchool,
SuccessMaker, TeacherVision and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings
help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within
reach of every student. Pearson's other primary businesses include the
Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.
SOURCE Pearson

Lisa Wolfe of L. Wolfe Communications, +1-773-325-9935, lwolfe@lwolfe.com, for
Pearson