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Mathematics Education Center - George Mason University

Projects and Partnerships

MEd Mathematics Specialist Leader K–8 Concentration

This 30-credit program includes all required course work for state endorsement as a K–8 mathematics specialist.

MEd Concentration

PhD in Education, Mathematics Education Leadership Specialization

The PhD in Education with a specialization in Mathematics Education Leadership (MEL) is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential.

PhD Specialization

Mason Coaching Institute for Math and Literacy

This online workshop will offer opportunities for specialists and coaches to explore decision making for effective coaching.

Coaching Institute

Projects and Partnerships

A primary goal for the MEC is to engage in projects and partnerships that are consistent with our overarching principle of math for the common good. The MEC conducts and collaborates on research and research-informed practices that are consistent with the following guiding principles:

  1. Conduct research in mathematics education and other related fields that support the teaching, learning, and understanding of mathematics with attention to inquiry, community engagement, and access to mathematics.
  2. Conduct research in mathematics education and other related fields that support broadening participation in mathematics education.
  3. Conduct multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations with partners in order to engage multiple perspectives on mathematics in different contexts. As a field, mathematics education has a long history of drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives. Methodologically, mathematics education also adopts multiple approaches and theoretical framings to address long-standing societal issues. The MEC is situated within that history and also seeks to advance innovative approaches and community collaborations in new ways.

The Box Turtle Model-Eliciting Activity

This activity was the result of a grant-funded school-university partnership between the George Mason College of Education and Human Development and Manassas City Public Schools that explored the role of mathematics in STEM integration. The activity centers around real-world images of box turtles provided by the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation. A primary goal of task design was to promote high-quality learning experience in which all students have opportunities to converse with their peers. Although aligned with multiple content standards, The Box Turtle Model-Eliciting Activity specifically targets the first-grade skill of sorting and classifying objects according to one or two attributes.

Implementing Research-Informed Evidence-Based Mathematics Teaching

This document contains information and resources to foster the deep, rich mathematical learning of all students. For two evidence-based best practices–implementing rich mathematical tasks and developing fact fluency–the brochure shares key insights from research and resources to support implementation. Although specifically tailored to support the transition to the 2023 Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning, the information and resources in this brochure are applicable nationwide.

Understanding the 2023 Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning Revision Process: A Guide To Increase Transparency, Awareness, and Participation

This document provides insight on the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning revision process, and shares information about five Areas of Focus that guided the development of the forthcoming 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning. These Areas of Focus integrated public feedback with research to ensure all Virginia students receive an education grounded in excellence, are proficient in K-12 math, and are college and career ready.

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