The goal of this paper is to explore possible explanations for why mathematics seems to remain in the background for many minority students. First, a brief background for a project to develop mathematics teaching that builds on students' backgrounds and experiences is provided. This is followed by a brief look at the theoretical framework…

A whole-school intervention strategy to transform the teaching/learning culture of schools was designed and implemented at an NSF (National Science Foundation)-sponsored SSI (Statewide Systemic Initiative) program for educational reform in science and mathematics in its pilot and dissemination stages. The SSI simultaneously provides: effective…

This paper is based on efforts to bring change to school mathematics by trying to develop mathematics classroom communities in predominantly minority classrooms. In these communities, students work towards doing mathematics by working on open-ended, investigative situations; sharing ideas and strategies; and jointly negotiating meanings. Students…

Describes an 8-week study on sixth-grade students (n=23) to determine the effect of personalizing word problems on students' motivation and ability to write correct mathematical expressions. Data from weekly quizzes and student attitude surveys revealed student motivation and achievement were both enhanced. (MKP)

A modified focus group approach was used to assess the perceptions of teachers involved in basic skills pilot site projects in Oklahoma after the second year. The two 5-year projects were implemented to develop, apply, evaluate, and advance approaches that strengthen basic competencies of students enrolled in vocational programs. Of the three…

Six classes received problem-centered mathematics instruction for two years in second and third grade. Results indicate that students in these classes scored significantly higher than students in traditional classes on standardized measures of computational proficiency and conceptual understanding. (TO)

Project Catch-Up is an ESEA Title I reading and math laboratory project for kindergarten through sixth-grade students, operating in Southern California's Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Its philosophy is that students having difficulty in reading and math can catch up with other students. Teachers take responsibility for the achievement…

A goal of the St. Paul (Minnesota) Head Start/Public School Early Childhood Transition Demonstration Project is to promote the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms through teacher training and the provision of related materials. This project is 1 of 31 sites participating in a…

As a followup to a 1969 study, called Project CASE, a survey was initiated to determine to what extent computers are used in secondary public schools, and to discern to what extent computers affect the quality of education. Some 5,580 randomly selected schools were questioned about their use of computers; commercial computer manufacturers were…

Longitudinal effectiveness of a program of bilingual individualized instruction in math, English and Spanish reading implemented by bilingual paraprofessional teachers recruited from migrant families was assessed among Spanish dominant monolingual and bilingual migrant students. Test scores in math and English reading for children age 5 to 9 were…