Accessible Test

MathBuilders

Formerly: Primary Math Units

(Continued)

Purpose

To develop instructional math materials for use with students who are blind and visually impaired in the primary grades as either a supplement to the classroom math program or as a core curriculum item.

Project Staff

Jeanette Wicker, Project Leader

Derrick Smith, Math Consultant

Katherine Corcoran, Model Maker

Darlene Donhoff, Technical/Clerical Assistant

Jenny Dortch, Consultant/Project Assistant

Frank Hayden, Technical Research Division Manager

Rosanne Hoffmann, Research Assistant

Tom Poppe, Model Maker

Erica Rucker, Research Assistant

Anita Rutledge, Design Specialist/Process Engineer

Ann Travis, Research Assistant

BISIG Impact Group, Graphic Design
Background

Math achievement of blind students has been consistently behind that of their sighted peers. In recent years, very little research and product development has been done to improve this situation. Teachers of students who are blind, however, have continuously requested special braille curricular materials for math similar to those in the Patterns program developed at APH to teach braille reading. Because of the dramatic increases in the number of blind students mainstreamed, the use of the itinerant special education teacher model, the math priority stated in GOALS 2000, and new teaching standards adopted by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, it became critical to focus once again on math materials for visually impaired students. This project received special funding as part of a three-year research initiative to develop new products in math, science, and geography.

During the Mathematics Focus Group Meeting in September 1994, this program was discussed and specifications were determined. During fiscal year 1995, work on the project included a review of the research and literature on math instruction for visually impaired students; analyses of math curriculum guides; thorough analyses of current textbooks to determine mathematical symbols, terms, and concepts being taught; a search of the catalogs for commercially available math related products; and a review of programs on abacus instruction. By 1996, prototypes of eight Primary Math Units and a general guidebook began to take shape with guidance from William E. Leibfritz, math consultant. In July 1996, a group of teachers of the visually impaired met at APH to share ideas they found to be particularly effective for developing math concepts and practice materials for their visually impaired students in the primary grades.
In July 1997, project consultants, Leibfritz and Susan Millaway, met at APH and reviewed in detail the teaching strategies for the kindergarten and first grade Primary Math Units. A draft of an introductory book that presents the philosophy and overview of the program was developed by the project leader later in fiscal year 1997. In fiscal years 1998 and 1999 worksheets were developed to supplement the Lessons for Unit 1: Matching, Sorting, and Patterning for kindergarten through third grade.
In fiscal year 2000, the decision was made to field test by units rather than waiting for the program to be finished in its entirety. Tooling of Unit 1 prototype worksheets for field testing began. In FY 2001, evaluation forms for the introduction and Unit 1 were drafted. Tooling of the prototype worksheets continued with coordination of the print and braille requiring much more time than originally planned. In fiscal year 2002-2003 Jenny Dortch completed the final draft of the introductory book and Unit 1. The evaluation forms for the book, lessons, and worksheets were developed. During fiscal year 2004, the evaluation forms, Guidelines (introductory material), and Unit 1 Lessons for Kindergarten through third grade were finalized and prepared for field testing. Materials were placed with teachers having braille reading students in kindergarten through third grade for approximately six to eight weeks and then returned to APH for compilation and analyses of data. Results were extremely positive with only a little revision required. Dortch continued work on Units 2, 3, and 4 during fiscal years 2004 and 2005. These units cover Number Concepts, Place Value, and Number Operation. Eleanor Pester served as Project Leader during this phase of development.
In FY 2006 the project was assigned to Jeanette Wicker, Core Curriculum Project Leader (a newly created position). Revisions were made to Unit 1, Matching, Patterning, and Sorting and to the General Guidelines based on the feedback from the field testing. MathBuilders was selected as the name for the series. Manipulatives were added to Unit 1 based on feedback from field testing. Graphic design and braille translation were completed. Tooling for worksheets began. A consultant, Derrick Smith, a Doctoral Student at Texas Tech, was hired for Unit 6, Geometry and Unit 8, Data Collection, Graphing, and Probability/Statistics. Objectives were reviewed for alignment with Principles and Standards for School Mathematics from the National Council of Teachers of Math for Units 6 and 8.
In FY 2007 Unit 1 and the General Guidelines became available for sale. A prototype of the Geometry Unit was completed and field tested at 10 sites for three months in the spring of 2007. The text for Unit 8 was written and the development of a prototype was initiated.
In FY 2008 revisions based on field reviewers’ comments were completed for Unit 6, Geometry. Production was completed and the Unit became available for sale in May 2008. Field testing of Unit 8, Data Collection, Graphing, and Probability/Statistics was completed and revisions were made based on field reviewer’s comments. A prototype of Unit 7, Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Decimals was completed.
Work during FY 2009

Unit 8, Data Collection, Graphing, and Probability/Statistics became available in September 2009. Unit 7, Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Decimals was field tested in FY 2009. The development of Unit 5, Measurement began in FY 2009. Objectives for the remaining three units were also developed.

Work planned for FY 2010

Complete revisions to Unit 7, Fractions, Mixed Numbers, and Decimals and produce for sale in winter of 2010. Field test Unit 5, Measurement. Work on the three remaining units will begin.