Discusses major unresolved issues in mathematics education today, focusing on computers, higher standards, and proposed changes in the college curriculum. Also offers eight predictions for the future, indicating that computers will not replace mathematics teachers and that calculus will no longer be the unique goal of college preparatory…

Discusses the development of problem-oriented mathematics materials for a wide variety of students. Materials include teaching guides, student materials, case studies in mathematical modeling, and project activities. Examples of these materials (including a sports-related activity for students who have not had success in mathematics) are provided.…

Reviews the findings from two international studies of mathematics achievement that have been conducted over the past 20 years. The majority of twelth-grade, college-bound American students scored among the lowest quarter of countries in the latest study. Includes tables and graphs. (MD)

The general professional preparation of competent primary-grade teachers, as well as the mathematical component of the teacher education program, are discussed. Overall goals, mathematical content, courses, methodological concerns, and teacher competencies are detailed. (MNS)

The proceedings of the 24th annual meeting of the Psychology of Mathematics Education North American Chapter (PME-NA) contains research reports, plenaries, and poster presentations. Papers include: (1) "What Do We Believe about Teacher Learning and How Can We Learn With and From Our Beliefs?" (Deborah Loewenberg Ball); (2) "Toward Evidence for…

This guide is a collection of ideas for mathematics activities which were assembled and tested by primary teachers. The activities supplement the teaching of basic numeracy and include topics such as algorithms, pyramids, magic squares, multiples, and number values. The guide is organized into four sections: (1) addition and subtraction; (2)…

This qualitative case study examines the use of teacher leaders to support fellow teachers in the implementation of a standards-based mathematics curriculum. Empirical and theoretical research advocate that teacher leaders need to internalize and embody seven interdependent leadership roles in order to create real and sustained change. Data were…

This article discusses the issue of equity in standards-based elementary mathematics classrooms. It is argued that while some of the gaps in mathematics achievement have slowly diminished (e.g., differences in mathematics grades and participation rates between girls and boys in K-12 education have decreased), others remain intractable. Other…

This curriculum framework document was developed to define what students must learn in specific subject areas to ensure their ultimate success. This document provides guidance in the disciplines of mathematics, science, and technology. The purpose of these materials is to set content strands and performance indicators for all students in the…

Survey of recent literature and research on computer-oriented mathematics courses in secondary schools aimed at setting forth the principal arguments given in support of these courses, and at critically examining the logical basis of these arguments and the anecdotal and statistical evidence for them. A 57-item bibliography is included. (Author/DN)

Elementary notions to (1) clarify meaning of "set , (2) suggest why the notion of set is an important one, and (3) give some hints as to how a teacher might use the word in the classroom. (RP)

Two books ("The Mathematical Experience" and "Mathematics Tomorrow") raise many issues about mathematics and education, including how mathematics education must be disciplined by focusing on the real world. Examined are ways the books take adequate account of the constraints present in problems they consider. (JN)

Drawing on a recent empirical study of curriculum change in English secondary school mathematics and on the work of Kuhn, Bucher and Strauss, Archer, and Bhaskar, a tentative model for analyzing how and why changes occur in the legitimacy of particular definitions of secondary school mathematics and science subjects is developed. (Author/IS)

Reports results of a comparison of correlational and multidimensional scaling techniques as tools for analyzing the perceptions of three groups of mathematics teachers (at high school, vocational school, and university levels) of the relative importance of curricular objectives. Discusses the relationship of the two analyses and the implications…