In the State of the Union Address on Jan 31 , President George W. Bush introduced the American Competitiveness Initiative , which includes proposals to improve math and science education in our schools in order to advance our nation’s economic competitiveness. This focus on more rigorous math and science learning follows numerous reports indicating that students in the United States under-perform their counterparts in emerging growth countries in the areas of math and science.

We are pleased to learn of the initial proposals for Federal support as one step toward change. And there are many other issues to address as well, among them overcoming cultural barriers and teaching the way students learn.

The challenge of successfully educating our young people, particularly in math and science, is highly complex. Our children live in a culture focused on immediate gain and in environments that devalue classroom education and a long-term investment in learning. The high school experience is often lost on our teenagers, particularly on male minorities, who become disengaged when classroom work stresses memorization and teaching to the test, rather than learning concepts and practicing them in real-life situations. The Los Angeles Times recently published a four-part series called the "Vanishing Class," which explores some of these challenges and illustrates how students in LAUSD limit their prospects by dropping out of high school. The issues – math performance in school and its implications for our nation – are vitally important to all of us, and I hope you will take the time to read the stories.

Ultimately, most young people who drop out of high school, leave because they are failing math. Students who fail math usually repeat the same course, taught by the same teacher using the same methodology, the following year. They do not progress because they have not mastered the basic math skills necessary to move ahead.

Last week, Carnegie Learning announced Bridge to Algebra , a new Cognitive Tutor course for teaching basic math concepts earlier. You will find more information on our new Bridge to Algebra curriculum below. There are no easy or fast solutions, but we look forward to offering one new tool for change.  We look forward to working with students, educators, administrators, and legislators to drive the American Competitiveness Initiative and to help every student succeed in math.

Best regards,

Dennis Ciccone
CEO
Carnegie Learning, Inc.
888-851-7094
dciccone@carnegielearning.com

Introducing Bridge to Algebra

On February 2, Carnegie Learning launched Bridge to Algebra , an algebra readiness curriculum for middle school and high school students preparing for algebra I. Bridge to Algebra is designed specifically for students whose past math performance indicates little chance of success in algebra.

"Bridge to Algebra was developed in response to years of research, market data, and classroom experience indicating that students who struggle in math are the most likely to drop out of high school," said Bill Hadley, Chief Academic Officer of Carnegie Learning. "It is critical that our students go into Algebra with a strong understanding of basic mathematics problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Bridge to Algebra is a new tool for educators to help reach the struggling students early and prepare them to succeed in Algebra."

Bridge to Algebra is the newest solution in our suite of proven, research-based Cognitive Tutor® curricula. The curriculum integrates interactive software sessions, text, and student-centered classroom lessons into a unique learning platform that emphasizes real-world problem solving and mathematics literacy. The Bridge to Algebra curriculum covers the five middle school content areas identified in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NTCM) and in most state standards: numbers, geometry, measurement, probability and statistics, and algebra.

More than 30,000 students nationwide are currently using Bridge to Algebra as part of a pilot program offered last fall to Carnegie Learning’s current Cognitive Tutor customers. Among the largest early adopters is the Los Angeles Unified School District, which purchased Bridge to Algebra last October for implementation with 12,000 middle school students beginning this semester. Of these 12,000 middle schools Columbus Middle School in Los Angeles Unified School District has implemented Bridge to Algebra with their English Language Learners with great success (see success stories below). Other Bridge to Algebra implementations include schools in Baltimore County, MD, Everett Public Schools in Washington State, and El Paso Independent School District in Texas.

Carnegie Learning invites our current customers to take the Bridge to Algebra Challenge!

The Bridge to Algebra Challenge is a free five-week trial of our new algebra readiness curricula. Registration for the Challenge begins February 24th and is limited to the first 500 schools to register.

To make sure you are one of these 500, please bookmark our Challenge page and register on February 24th. Or send an e-mail to challenge@carnegielearning.com with "remind me" in the subject line and we will send you an email reminder on February 23.

Registration dates: February 24 — April 23, 2006
Challenge Start date: April 24, 2006
Challenge Expiration date: May 26, 2006
(Multiple trials permitted in one district; limit 30 students per each trial)

The Carnegie Learning Success Stories highlight successful implementations of Carnegie Learning Cognitive Tutor curricula around the country.  In each of our newsletters, we will feature one of our Success Stories – this issue we are pleased to share the successes of Columbus Middle School.

Columbus Middle School, Los Angeles Unified School District, CA

" One girl who is in my class for the second year was a big behavior problem.  With this program she works independently and she has reached level 9 in ten weeks with very, very limited English ability. Many kids ask to work on this program at lunch and nutrition, which blows my mind.  My behavior problems have turned to my better students.  The Cognitive Tutor is the best thing that has happened to these kids and me since I started here. "

Read Columbus Middle School’s entire success story on our web site: http://www.carnegielearning.com/success.cfm

eSchoolNews : Technology helps ratchet up math instruction
Combined with real-world approaches, tech helps turn kids on to math
February 13, 2006
By Corey Murray, Senior Editor, eSchool News

"Teachers are going to need to change the way that they teach & to use technology well," she [Cathy Seeley, president of the NCTM]. said. "We need to use the tools that will allow us to teach better, smarter."

It's that kind of thinking that is driving innovation and research at places such as Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Carnegie Learning.

"[H]aving a deeper understanding is important [because] it helps you remember long-term, so that when you enter into the workforce you still retain enough of the information to help you in your job," said Steve Ritter, a co-founder of the company and senior vice president of research and development.

Read the Article

Catalyst Chicago : Math, science plans face hurdles
December 2005
by Maureen Kelleher

If math teacher Delora Washington had her way, Corliss High in Pullman would be first in line to join the district’s initiative to prod schools to adopt new, improved math curricula.

"I've been trying to get Cognitive Tutor (a highly regarded math curriculum that includes extensive computer-based learning) for the last three years," says Washington, who teaches calculus and advanced algebra with trigonometry, and recently won the prestigious Milken Family Foundation Educator Award. "It really makes students think about math [concepts]."

Read the Article

Tiger Woods Learning Center Implements Carnegie Learning® Curricula
Anaheim, CA, February 10, 2006
Youth-Education Facility Opens to Enhance Learning Opportunities for Students in Southern California

Carnegie Learning, a leading research-based mathematics curricula provider, announced that the company's Cognitive Tutor® solutions have been selected as part of the middle school and high school math programs offered at the Tiger Woods Learning Center, an innovative youth-education facility that opened today in Anaheim, California.

"Carnegie Learning is honored and proud to be a part of the Tiger Woods Learning Center’s visionary goal to give students a safe place to explore their dreams, imagine new possibilities, and start on a career path that will keep them engaged in learning," said Dennis Ciccone, CEO of Carnegie Learning.

Link to press release

Maui Educational Consortium: Mathematics-Science Improvement Partnership Grant Purchases Carnegie Learning for Hawai’i Public Schools
Maui, HI, November 29, 2005
Three-Year Grant Aims to Improve Math Scores for Middle and High School Students

Carnegie Learning announced today that the Hawai‘i Public Schools, in conjunction with the Maui Educational Consortium: Mathematics-Science Improvement Partnership Grant, has purchased Carnegie Learning math curricula for six schools on the islands of Maui and Molokai

“This is an exciting time for education in Maui County and in choosing Carnegie Learning’s curricula and the follow-on assessment process, these schools have made a clear commitment to helping our students to better prepare for the future,” said Dr. Debra Nakama, Maui Community College’s Articulation Coordinator and Project Director.

Link to press release

Carnegie Learning’s Steven Ritter Appointed to SIIA Education Board
Pittsburgh, PA, November 21, 2005
Leading Authority on How Students Learn is Tapped to Help Drive Improvements in Middle and High School Math

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has announced the appointment of Dr. Steven Ritter, senior vice president of research and development at Carnegie Learning, to a seat on the SIIA Education Division Board of Directors.

Link to press release

Carnegie Learning's Distinguished Educator & Outstanding Student Awards
Carnegie Learning is proud to recognize the exceptional educators and students who are achieving new levels of success using Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor® solutions, and we invite you to submit nominations for a Distinguished Educator or Outstanding Student.

This year, we will honor six individuals who demonstrate a commitment to changing the way America teaches and learns mathematics. Winners will receive an Apple iPod nano, recognition on Carnegie Learning’s Web site and in our customer newsletter.

Please submit nominations on our Web site at Distinguished Educator and Outstanding Student pages or contact Ashley Tippen, program coordinator, at atippen@carnegielearning.com if you would like more information.

• March program: deadline March 1
• June program: deadline May 22
• December program: deadline Nov 20

SchoolCare® Update:

Carnegie Learning is committed to providing the best and most successful learning experience to students, educators, and administrators. We are pleased to present our SchoolCare® updates for the 2006-2007 academic year. Among the improved features and services:

• Cognitive Tutor software includes a new user interface and several new features such as the Look Ahead, a list of key terms, major skills addressed in the unit, and requirements to complete a typical problem in the unit and the Look Back, that includes a check your understanding problem, a summary of the formal math content, and a list of the major skills learned.
  
  
• Clean, new look for student and teacher text for Algebra I and Geometry. New printed materials for the student text, including the accompanying Student Assignments, Homework Helper, Teacher Implementation Guide, Teacher Resources and Assessments.

To best understand and optimize the value of the new users interface and textbook enhancements, Carnegie Learning is recommending a one day professional development session in your April SchoolCare invoice.

Our Educational Sales Team welcomes the opportunity to speak with you concerning these updates or your upcoming invoice. For more information on updating your SchoolCare benefits, please contact us at 888-851-7094 option 7.

Education Technology Information Center (ETIC)
Carnegie Learning has created profiles for our Algebra I & II and Geometry products. Visit today to submit your personal experiences you have had with your Carnegie Learning product(s).

http://www.edtechinfocenter.com/products/ProductsByCompanyListing.cfm?fManuref=938&display=C

The Hadley Factor
Bill Hadley is a 28-year veteran Pittsburgh Public School mathematics teacher and a founder of Carnegie Learning, Inc. Through The Hadley Factor Web blog, Bill shares his thoughts and perspectives on research, issues and challenges in the teaching and learning of middle school and high school mathematics. http://hadleyfactor.blogspot.com/

Except from the Latest Entry: A new research study, Reassessing U.S. International Mathematics Performance: New Findings from the 2003 TIMSS and PISA, re-examines U.S. student's performance on international examinations by comparing their scores to the other 11 developed countries who participated at all three levels, 4th, 8th grades and 15-year-olds reports. Their findings show that within this group of these 11 countries, U.S. 4th graders where 8th overall and the other two groups were 9th...

The Cognitive Blogger
Steve Ritter, Senior Cognitive Scientist at Carnegie Learning, has a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and has spent 15 years applying artificial intelligence and principles of how people learn to mathematics education. As the Cognitive Blogger, Steve provides commentary on the state of education and educational technology. http://www.cognitiveblogger.blogspot.com/

Except from the Latest Entry: My biggest reason for skepticism about Qatar's Education City was that you just never heard about it in the US media. Well, CNET has just run a nice series about Education City. I think the articles pretty well reflect what I saw and heard there...

American Association of Math Administrators
San Diego, CA
February 23 – February 26, 2006

Iowa Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Des Moines, IA
February 24, 2006

Alaska Society for Technology in Education
February 26 - February 28, 2006
Anchorage, AK

West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics
March 17 - March 18, 2006
Flatwoods, WV

For additional event listings visit our Events page

For more information on Carnegie Learning's curricula or services, please contact us at info@carnegielearning.com

www.carnegielearning.com

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