Walking into a math class at Taft Middle School might make a parent wonder, “is this a math class?” Students are in teams and the teacher moves around the room to interact with each group. The room is buzzing with discussion and debate as students think through challenging real-world problems.CPM, College Preparatory Mathematics is student-centered and problem-based. Created for teachers, by teachers, CPM is based on three pillars: 1) Collaboration - Guided by a knowledgeable teacher, students should interact in groups to foster mathematical discourse. 2) Problem-based learning - Students should engage in problem-based lessons structured around a core idea. 3) Mixed, Spaced Practice - Practice with concepts and procedures should be spaced over time; that is, mastery comes over time.
At Taft, students have the opportunity to engage and learn math as active participants through collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
