Chapter 9: Curriculum Implementation: Teachers on a Journey

Implementing standards-based curricula is a bit like leaving your homeland to come to a new country. As I reflect back on our district’s experiences with Mathematics in Context [MiC] (National Center for Research in Mathematical Sciences Education & Freudenthal Institute, 1997–1998) it occurs to me that an analogy can be made to my grandparents’ immigration to America. They knew something about where they were headed, but certainly had no idea about how long and rough the sea voyage would be when they got on the ship. Nevertheless, they were willing to take a risk because they believed that they could not better themselves by staying in their home country.