Ground-Breaking Straight Curve™ Mathematics Product Line Expanded

Curriculum Deepens Instructional Focus on Most Difficult Concepts in Alignment with NCTM Curriculum Focal Points

PLATO Learning announced market availability of the expanded Straight Curve™ Mathematics Series with the addition of grades K-2 and 6. This pioneering teacher-facilitated supplemental curriculum leverages innovative technology to enrich core elementary mathematics texts. It provides deeper, enhanced focus on the concepts identified as the most difficult for students in grades K-6 to master within the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) strands of numbers and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability.

Straight Curve™ Mathematics Series 1, for grades K-2, follows the same research-based pedagogy and instructional design of Series 2, now expanded to include grades 3 through 6. The on-grade-level to advanced curriculum is made up of five instructional blocks-mini-lessons, investigations, workshops, games, and quizzes.

Since the release of Straight Curve Mathematics Series 2 in April 2006, the product has been recognized for instructional excellence and has received the 2006 ComputED Gazette EDDIE Award and a 5-star review in the November 2006 issue of MultiMedia & Internet@Schools. "Straight Curve Mathematics provides an invaluable supplement to any existing math curriculum," raved the EDDIE Award review.

MultiMedia & Internet@Schools product reviewer Principal John Drag, Jr., Broward Community Charter School, Coral Springs, Fla., wrote, "Straight Curve Mathematics offers resources that help teachers find the best ways to teach difficult mathematical concepts, as well as the opportunity to use that same content to teach students. This program also would be helpful in teacher preparation for certification. I have observed numerous teachers, certified or on their way toward certification, who would benefit from a deepening of their mathematical knowledge. This product is highly recommended."

Straight Curve Mathematics closely aligns with the Curriculum Focal Points, recently published by the NCTM. It is designed to support the elementary classroom teacher and equip them with best practices for in-depth presentation of the most challenging core math concepts. The curriculum maps to the nation's top textbooks and easily integrates with existing classroom resources; teacher support materials are embedded within each level of instruction, saving teachers valuable preparation time and leaving more time for teaching.

The Straight Curve product line is available on the PLATO Learning Environment™ (PLE™). Licensed on a subscription basis and delivered via an Internet application service provider (ASP), PLE offers a simple-to-use interface that integrates key aspects of the educational process-managing and delivering instructional content, assessing student progress and prescribing individualized instruction, managing national and state standards, and reporting and analyzing data.

"NCTM recommends teaching a few key concepts more intensively each year, along with teaching students to think critically about math problem-solving," said Mike Morache, PLATO Learning President and CEO. "Straight Curve Mathematics provides interactive instructional tools which support NCTM's latest report."