The work of these two teachers in the EMTTP
project illustrates an especially important aspect
of what is happening at Washington Elemen
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tary. That is, the school faculty is actively en
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gaged in thinking about the mathematics they
teach and in analyzing the impact of their teach
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ing on student learning. Lubomudrov, the prin
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cipal during the project, summarizes this by
saying that the teachers have moved from teach
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ing as direct instruction to a reflective, critical
practice. This process of reflection places addi
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tional demands on a teacher’s own content
knowledge. By examining a mathematical con
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cept through examples of their own students’
work, then sharing their thinking with colleagues
and project staff, many teachers’ mathematical
knowledge has grown as well as their interest in
the subject. Project staff observe this increased
knowledge affecting the teachers’ decisions
about classroom work and goals, and there is a
greater emphasis on mathematical thinking as
teachers and students examine topics in more
depth. The project evaluator, Deborah Schifter
from the Educational Development Center in
Boston, visited the project twice each year, and
in her final report, she offered the following
comments on the changes she observed in the
faculty.