The project provides middle school math teachers who work with the lower quartile of the student population at the middle school level, a handbook of strategies, methods and activity ideas to implement into the classroom to enhance student alternative teaching practices. It contains student-centered activities, which will allow the lower quartile of the student population an opportunity to have a positive experience in math, as well as taking ownership of their learning. By connecting the students prior knowledge to situations in math that the students can make a relationship with will produce an understanding of various mathematical concepts that were once meaningless to the students. This handbook provides student-centered mathematical activities that implement the use of various manipulatives such as, visual, kinesthetic, computer technology and real life mathematical situations that will allow the students to relate their own experiences as well as explore and build on new mathematical reasoning and concepts. 

Committee Chair: Dr. Lee A. Plourde.