NCTM Releases New Document to Support Educators in Implementing Common Core State Standards for Math

Reston, Va., January 6, 2011 ­­-The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) today released Making It Happen: A Guide to Interpreting and Implementing Common Core State Standards for Mathematics , which connects the Common Core Standards with the Council's Standards for school mathematics. Building on the Council's 30-year track record of success in the development of standards for school mathematics, Making It Happen supports teachers, districts, and states in implementing the Common Core States Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM).  

"Adoption of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics has created a new environment for mathematics education and raised many questions for teachers," said NCTM President J. Michael Shaughnessy. "Making It Happen gives teachers an important resource to meet the new challenges of the Common Core Standards by connecting them to the definitive Standards work done previously by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics."

Through an online interactive e-book and a print companion, Making It Happen connects CCSSM to NCTM's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics , Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics: A Quest for Coherence , Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making , and the Essential Understanding Series. The online appendixes will continue to be updated as NCTM expands its resources for educators.

Making It Happen has five main sections, including a section on the key characteristics of school mathematics that are common to CCSSM and NCTM, and a section that provides a road map for teachers as they strive to see how NCTM resources relate to CCSSM and can be used in the classroom to address the new standards.

"Making It Happen offers both a way to interpret CCSSM and a way to implement a mathematics program that embodies CCSSM expectations and resonates with the vision of quality mathematics content for all students that NCTM has long articulated and supported," said Rose Mary Zbiek, lead author of the publication.

Many of the aims and goals of the Common Core State Standards Initiative are consistent with those of NCTM's preceding work-to provide all students with mathematics education of the highest quality. Making It Happen serves as a resource guide for helping educators adopt and enact this shared position on standards, pedagogical processes, and content foci.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, supporting teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students through vision, leadership, professional development, and research. With more than 100,000 members and 230 Affiliates, NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education and issues a call for all students to engage in more challenging mathematics. Its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics identifies the most important mathematical topics for each grade level. Focus in High School Mathematics: Reasoning and Sense Making advocates practical changes to the high school mathematics curriculum to refocus learning on reasoning and sense making. NCTM is dedicated to ongoing dialogue and constructive discussion with all stakeholders about what is best for our nation's students.