We have heard for years of the need for a richer mathematics curriculum. We have also heard about how poorly our student's score in mathematics compared to other countries. Reports from international studies show U.S. students learning much less mathematics than students in many other countries. Everyday Mathematics attempts to remedy this problem by giving students a wide range of mathematical experiences and ideas. This is achieved by integrating mathematics instruction into other curricular areas, like science, social studies, and the language of mathematics Everyday Mathematics is written based on a spiral curriculum, meaning a specific concept is taught five times in two years, giving the student many opportunities to grasp the idea when developmentally ready to do so Students are involved in sharing ideas through discussions.
Children gain important mathematical insights by building on discoveries.
This promotes good listening habits and a receptive attitude toward the ideas of others. Children are constantly talking about how they solved a problem and what they are thinking mathematically. By discussing their thoughts, they are clarifying their learning. They learn to work as a team, which emphasizes cooperation rather than competition. Students solve problems based on real-life situations.