UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 18, Page 9
February 2, 1995
By the numbers; Math education subject of several books

     Math education is a number one priority for Kathleen Hollowell,
and she has co-authored five books to prove it. Most recently,
Hollowell, Bettyann Daley, assistant to the director, and Ronald H.
Wenger, associate professor of mathematics and director, all of the
University's Mathematical Sciences Teaching and Learning Center, have
written Building Foundations for Secondary School Mathematics,
published by Janson Publications.
     Hollowell, the math center's associate director for secondary
mathematics in-service programs, also was one of the authors of
Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics, part of the University of
Chicago School of Mathematics Project, and she co-authored three other
text books for Holt, Rinehart and Winston, now at the proof stage,
entitled Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II.
     In addition to writing math books that are relevant to today's
world and to today's students, Hollowell works in the field with
teachers throughout Delaware to improve mathematics education and to
implement Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics,
established by the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics.
     Building Foundations is a direct result of her interaction with
Delaware teachers. With an Eisenhower Title II Competitive Grant (1989-
1991) and now funded by the National Science Foundation, Hollowell and
Wenger are involved in an innovative Pre-Algebra/Algebra Project to
develop a model math curriculum for Delaware schools, grades 7-9.
     As they developed modules for in-service teacher training, it
became clear that these should be put in book form to supplement
textbooks, Hollowell said, and the result was Building Foundations.
     The book is designed for teachers to teach themselves new
mathematical content, new methods of teaching-such as group
learning-to use different approaches to topics, to expand concepts and
to make math relevant to student experiences. The material in the book
has been piloted in the classroom and works well, Hollowell said.
     While promoting problem solving, mathematical reasoning and
communication, the book's lessons represent the "big ideas" in pre-
algebra, geometry and statistics, with topics ranging from "Conducting
A Survey" to "Thinking Graphically" to "Coin Toss Experiments."
     In addition to Building Foundations, the center has trained lead
teachers in the new standards. These teachers are working with their
colleagues in a series of "Teachers Helping Teachers" presentations in
school districts throughout the state so that other teachers may
benefit from the project.
     "We are excited about publishing Foundations and about the
programs to improve and expand methods of teaching math in Delaware
classrooms. We are especially proud of the teachers who have
participated in the Pre-Algebra/Algebra project, whose collaboration
has made the book and programs possible," Hollowell said.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure