The Norman Howard School Demonstration Project seeks funds for a three-year program to enhance 90 middle school mathematics teachers to respond to the needs of learning disabled (LD) students who are mainstreamed in regular mathematics classes. The project will a) develop alternative instructional strategies that support learning disabled students' mathematics learning and embed these strategies in field tested exemplary geometry and algebra units; (b) implement three model teacher enhancement programs for middle school mathematics teachers from the Greater Rochester area; and (c) develop a "package" containing materials and suggestions to organize similar programs nationwide. In addition to the Norman Howard staff, nine core teachers from four middle school sites will be members of the staff team and will be responsible for developing and field-testing materials to be used in the enhancement phase of the project. The mathematical focus of the project will be introductory algebra and geometry while the instructional focus will be on construction of knowledge, use of manipulative and cooperative learning. Each teacher participant will be part of one of three enhancement models: an intensive summer institute followed by year-long experiences involving classroom experimentation; a series of ten workshops throughout the Fall semester of the school year; and a series of ten revised workshops through the Spring semester of the school year. Norman Howard School, University of Rochester and participating school district cost-sharing accounts for 32% of the NSF budget. This project fills an important need, that of developing materials for and enhancing middle school mathematics teachers in instructional strategies in mathematics for LD students integrated into mainstream mathematics classes.
