Below find general background about Math Trailblazers; specific information about the program; and deep background about important math/science concepts:

• Foundations of Math Trailblazers
  The underlying philosophy of the program is described.
  
  
• Components of Math Trailblazers
  Math Trailblazers is a multicomponent program. Grades 1–5 include three books for students (the Student Guide, Discovery Assignment Book, and Adventure Book) and two volumes for teachers (the Teacher Implementation Guide and the Unit Resource Guide). The Components and Features Guide is a road map to help you understand the purposes of the various components and where to find key information. Examples of important features taken from actual student and teacher pages are illustrated.
  
  
• Unit Summaries
  Unit summaries include a narrative description of the content for each unit and a list of important math concepts covered in the individual units. This provides a snapshot view of the curriculum for your grade.
  
  Click on the grade level below to view the unit summaries for that grade.
  

  Kindergarten
  Grade 1
  Grade 2
  Grade 3
  Grade 4
  Grade 5
  
  

• Trailblazers' Connection with the NCTM Standards
  Math Trailblazers was developed to reflect the goals and approaches outlined in the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The Teacher Implementation Guide includes detailed information, using text and tables, about how the program aligns with the Standards.
  
  
• Math Facts and Whole Number Operations
  The Math Trailblazers program for presenting the math facts and whole-number operations is summarized in the Teacher Implementation Guide. Background information about our approach and expectations for grades are outlined.
  
  
• Assessment in Math Trailblazers
  Math Trailblazers includes a comprehensive program of student assessment. The philosophy and components of the assessment program are described in the Teacher Implementation Guide. Assessment materials from the curriculum are used to illustrate key ideas. Specific suggestions for implementing the assessment program are included.
  
  
• TIMS Tutors: Background Information for Teachers
  The Teacher Implementation Guide includes a series of 13 documents called TIMS Tutors. The tutors provide extensive information on a wide variety of topics in pedagogy, mathematics, and science. The tutors serve as a source of deep background information for teachers and others. Some tutors, such as the tutor on Math Facts, supply specific information needed by teachers to plan particular portions of the Math Trailblazers program. Other tutors, such as the tutor on mass, focus on math/science content. Still others, such as the tutor on portfolios, address pedagogical concerns.
  
  

  Download and view a few sample TIMS Tutors taken from the Math Trailblazers Fifth Grade Teacher Implementation Guide (TIG). Arithmetic, pages 177–192 from Grade 5 TIG total of 16 pages Math Facts, pages 227–240 from Grade 5 TIG total of 14 pages TIMS Laboratory Method pages 259–275 from Grade 5 TIG total of 17 pages Copyright © 1998 by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. Used with permission.

  Viewing TIMS Tutors Each tutor is a PDF file and can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Please visit the Adobe site to troubleshoot or download the Reader program if you do not already have it installed on your computer. http://www.adobe.com/ http://www.adobe.com/ prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html

  
  

• Manipulatives List
  A listing of the manipulatives required for program implementation is included in the Teacher Implementation Guide.
  
  Click on the grade level below to view the manipulatives list for that grade.
  

                                                                         Kindergarten                                                                  
  Grade 1
  Grade 2
  Grade 3
  Grade 4
  Grade 5
  
  

Suggestions for Working with Parents
When adopting a math program that is new and different, such as Math Trailblazers, it is important to keep parents informed and educated about the program. Some hints for working with parents regarding Math Trailblazers are outlined in the Teacher Implementation Guide. A brochure about the program, in English and Spanish, is provided.

Implementation and Staff  Development
If you are planning staff development sessions about Math Trailblazers: Implementation of Math Trailblazers will be much more effective if it is accompanied by a good staff development program. A week-long orientation to Math Trailblazers is made available to schools through the www.kendallhunt.com

          We recommend that schools supplement this with additional staff development, preferably to support teachers at least through the initial year of implementation. Several sections of the Teacher Implementation Guide especially the TIMS Tutors, Assessment in Math Trailblazers, Foundations of Math Trailblazers, and the portions that outline the curriculum's alignment with the NCTM Standards are ready-made to be used within the context of a staff development program. For specific suggestions about developing local staff development efforts related to Math Trailblazers, contact the TIMS Project at (312) 996-2448 or via e-mail at tims@uic.edu.

Copyright © 1999 Institute for Mathematics and Science Education. All rights reserved.
UIC—University of Illinois at Chicago