Project M2 Level 2 Unit 2: Using Everyday Measures: Measuring with the Meerkats Manipulative Kit

TUTITA M CASA

Tutita Casa is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut Neag School of Education. Prior to her appointment, Casa worked extensively to develop and research the efficacy of advanced mathematics curriculum for elementary students. She served as Co-Principal Investigator for Project M²: Mentoring Young Mathematicians for 6 years, a National Science Foundation research grant that developed challenging geometry and measurement units for kindergarten through Grade 2 students. As part of this work, she conceptualized the Student Mathematician Discourse Model that supported students’ mathematical communication that results in writing. Prior to that, she worked on Project M³: Mentoring Mathematical Minds, a series developed for mathematically promising students in Grades 3 through 5 from which Project M² was conceived.
 

Linda Jensen Sheffield

Linda Sheffield, Regents Professor Emerita of Mathematics Education at Northern Kentucky University, is a co-author of Math Innovations, a middle grades mathematics series as well as the Javits-funded Project M³: Mentoring Mathematical Minds and the NSF Project M²: Mentoring Young Mathematicians, two series of units for elementary and primary students. She a leader of the National Association for Gifted Children STEM Network, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Special Interest Group on Mathematically Promising, was chair of the NCTM Task Force on Promising Students, and is past president of the School Science and Mathematics Association. Among the over 50 books that she has authored, co-authored, or edited are the NAGC/NCTM/NCSM monograph, Using the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics with Gifted and Advanced Learners; The Peak in the Middle: Developing Mathematically Gifted Students in the Middle Grades; Extending the Challenge in Mathematics; Awesome Math Problems for Creative Thinking; the PreK–2 NCTM Navigations series; and math methods books for early childhood elementary and middle school teachers. She directed more than 20 state and national grants and has conducted seminars for educators, parents and students across the United States and in nearly twenty other countries with an emphasis on helping all students develop their mathematical creativity, promise, talents and abilities to the fullest extent possible.

Suzanne H Chapin

Suzanne H. Chapin, Ed.D. is an associate professor of mathematics education at Boston University, with expertise in mathematical discourse. She is also co-author of the Project M³ units, an author for the NCTM Navigations Series in grades 3-5, and senior author of Math Matters: Understanding the Math You Teach, Grades K-6.

Katherine Gavin

Dr. Katherine Gavin has over 30 years of experience in education as a mathematics teacher, math district coordinator, elementary assistant principal, and associate professor at the Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Connecticut. She is the Director and Senior Author of two multi-year curriculum research projects that involve the development of advanced mathematics units for mathematically talented students in Grades K-6. Research results show statistically significant mathematical achievement gains for the students in the projects over a comparison group of like-ability students. Project M3 units developed under a U.S. Department of Education research grant have won the National Association for Gifted Education (NAGC) Curriculum Division Award for six consecutive years. Dr. Gavin and her colleagues also received the 2009 Research Paper of the Year award from Gifted Child Quarterly, the leading United States research journal in gifted education, for an article that reported the Project M3 research results. Dr. Gavin is also the Director and Senior Author of the National Science Foundation Project M2, Mentoring Young Mathematicians, curriculum units for students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. Results again show statistically significant achievement gains for project students over the comparison group of students. This Project has received the NAGC Curriculum Division award for three consecutive years. She is also a co-author on the middle school mathematics textbook series, Math Innovations. Dr. Gavin’s awards include the 2006 Early Leader Award from NAGC, the 2012 Distinguished Researcher Award from the University of Connecticut, and the 2015 Robert A. Rosenbaum Leadership in Mathematics Award from the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut (ATOMIC). Dr. Gavin has written over 100 articles and book chapters on gifted mathematics education, is a member of the writing team for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Navigations series and has co-authored a series of creative problem solving books. In addition, as a consultant she provides professional development for teachers and administrators in school districts throughout the United States and presents annually at national and international conferences including invited keynote presentations. For further information regarding her research projects and curriculum, please visit www.projectm3.org and www.projectm2.org.