What . . . The Basics of the CPM Curriculum What . . . CPM high school courses parallel the course sequence of Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra, and Mathematical Analysis. The two middle grades courses are designed to prepare students for Algebra. The CPM curriculum uses a variety of teaching methodologies, including lecture, class discussions, manipulatives, and structured study teams.
Teachers lecture regularly and summarize lessons based on observed needs of the students.
Basic skills and procedures are practiced as exercises over several weeks as well as integrated into challenging application problems. The CPM curriculum is effective because of its unique emphasis of both basic skills and problem solving strategies. Where other mathematics programs emphasize only the mechanics of mathematics, the CPM materials develop the basics while encouraging students to understand ideas, see relationships between them, and apply mathematical principles to complex problems. CPM courses prepare students for the global marketplace they will face after graduation, either in institutions of higher learning or in the job market. They provide guidance for students while they are working in study teams.