Nearly 23,000 Teachers Now Participating in Texas Instruments 'We All Use Math Every Day' Education Program

Nearly 23,000 Teachers Now Participating in Texas Instruments 'We All Use Math Every Day' Education Program

Students Learn Math Concepts from Activities Based on CBS Hit TV Series 'NUMB3RS'

DALLAS and LOS ANGELES, March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nearly 23,000 educators are championing a math revolution aimed at getting U.S. middle and high school students more interested in mathematics. Challenging the student perception that math is boring or irrelevant, teachers are combining education with popular entertainment to show students that We All Use Math Every Day(TM). Texas Instruments (TI), in partnership with CBS, launched this unique education initiative based on the TV series "NUMB3RS" to support teachers, motivate students and raise awareness of the many uses of mathematics in everyday life.

The We All Use Math Every Day program launched in September 2005 and includes a student sweepstakes with extra credit math questions, cast events at key educational trade shows, classroom materials and weekly math activities.

The weekly math activities for grades 8-12, jointly developed by TI the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), correspond with each episode of the show. The high quality, engaging activities allow students to more deeply explore the math derived directly from the concepts highlighted in each "NUMB3RS" episode. The activities are available free for download at cbs.com/numb3rs.

"I have the NUMB3RS poster in my classroom and the other day a student asked me the famous question all math teachers must defend, "When are we EVER going to use this?," said Lois Coles, an 8th grade Algebra teacher from Brentwood Middle School in Brentwood, Tennessee. "Before I could even respond, another student pointed at the poster and said, 'You know what she is going to say...It's like the poster says... 'we ALL use math every day!'"

"Improving math literacy among America's students will give them more career options in the future," said Melendy Lovett, president of Texas Instruments Educational & Productivity Solutions business. "TI's We All Use Math Every Day program is designed to have a long-term positive effect on how math is perceived and show its real world relevancy."

"It is gratifying to know that 'NUMB3RS' is 'doing good' and serving a purpose beyond pure entertainment. We are thrilled that almost 23,000 teachers have opted into the program since Season Two debuted, and the cast of 'NUMB3RS' enjoys spreading the word that 'Math is cool!'" said "NUMB3RS" Executive Producers and co-Creators Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci, who along with the show's cast are visiting math teacher conferences around the U.S. to help educate teachers about the program.

"NUMB3RS," which premiered on January 23, 2005, focuses on FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) who recruits his mathematical genius brother Charlie (David Krumholtz) to help the Bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles. Inspired by actual cases, the series depicts how police work and mathematics provide unexpected revelations and answers to the most perplexing criminal questions.

TI's sweepstakes runs through March 15, 2006 and incorporates math questions as Extra Credit. A student and one teacher will each win a trip for four to Hollywood to meet cast members of the show. Two additional students will receive scholarships, and the winning teacher will win a walk-on part on "NUMB3RS." Teachers can find program information and order a classroom start- up kit at cbs.com/numb3rs.

About Texas Instruments

Educational & Productivity Solutions, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of advanced tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications and enabling students and teachers to explore math and science interactively. Designed with leading educators, Texas Instruments' educational technology and services are tested against recognized third-party research on effective instruction and improved student learning. Such research shows that use of graphing calculators and wireless collaborative technology in the classroom helps teachers implement instructional strategies that lead to higher student interest, engagement and achievement in mathematics.* For more than 15 years, TI has worked closely with educators and administrators to develop student-focused curricular and supplemental classroom materials, and it supports the world's largest professional development organization for the appropriate use of educational technology. More information is available at www.education.ti.com.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE:TXN) is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses also include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN.

Handheld technology leadership measured in USA by Decision Analyst, Inc.

*Based on related research on classroom communications systems and specific pedagogy. See education.ti.com/research for more information.

About "NUMB3RS"

Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Barry Schindel, David W. Zucker, Nicolas Falacci, and Cheryl Heuton are executive producers of NUMB3RS, which was created by Cheryl Heuton and Nicolas Falacci. NUMB3RS is produced by Scott Free in association with Paramount Network Television for CBS.

About the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. With 100,000 members and 240 Affiliates, NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education and issues a call for all students to engage in more challenging mathematics. More information is available at nctm.org.

Source: Texas Instruments E&PS

CONTACT: Laura Slagle of GolinHarris, +1-972-341-2541, or
lslagle@golinharris.com , for Texas Instruments E&PS; or Karin Failla of CBS,
+1-323-575-4269, or karin.failla@tvc.cbs.com ; or David Sperber of CBS
Paramount Network Television, +1-323-956-4323, or
david.sperber@tv.paramount.com

Web site: http://www.ti.com/
http://www.education.ti.com/
http://education.ti.com/research
http://cbs.com/numb3rs
http://nctm.org/

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