The effects of promoting families to be involved in the homework of their middle-grades children, and the effect of involvement on student achievement in mathematics were studied with families of 74 white sixth graders. Prompted families were significantly more involved in homework. Level of family involvement was not significantly related to…

Responses from 351 employee participants in a workplace education program (218 completers) indicated they were mostly white, female high school graduates ages 26 to 35. Women with Test of Adult Basic Education math scores below 5.0 were less likely to complete. Those who completed higher grades in school were more likely to participate. (SK)

Examines differences in student math and science achievement between rural and urban schools in Western Australia, after controlling for student background variables. Using multilevel modeling techniques, shows that school location significantly affected student achievement, with students attending rural schools not performing as well as those…

A study contrasted two instructional approaches for teaching decimals to 44 junior high school remedial students and students with learning disabilities. Findings indicate significant effects on conceptual tasks for students who were taught decimals with an emphasis on conceptual understanding; however, low-achieving students required considerable…

Studied general and differential effects of an experimental mathematics program on student achievement in secondary education. Participants were Dutch seventh graders, 222 in the experimental program and 222 in a control group. Results suggest that lower-achieving students can benefit from strategy instruction as long as the instruction is not too…

Summarizes key findings of an evaluation of the newly developed TLE program (The Learning Equation), implemented in Alberta and British Columbia (Canada). TLE comprises computer-based math resources designed to improve retention of expected math outcomes in secondary school students. Teacher evaluation and math achievement scores of 1,184 students…

Multiage grouping, based on the belief that children benefit from engaging in learning environments that accommodate at least two age groups, allows for marked improvements in children's enthusiasm for learning mathematics. Children are challenged and stimulated by their interactions with multiage peers, and assessment information indicates they…

"America's Kindergartners," a National Center for Education Statistics report, suggests that kindergarten is becoming increasingly academic. Children's scores on the 1998-99 Early Childhood Study-Kindergarten reflected their mothers' educational and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Two-thirds of black and Hispanic kids fall into the lowest…

Compared arithmetic knowledge and calculation strategies of children in England and Slovenia in relation to existing policy and practice regarding school entry age. Found that English children scored significantly higher than Slovenes at age 6 on basic arithmetic; by 7 there were no differences. English 6 and 7-year-olds scored higher on…

Critiques an article on poor school funding, child poverty, and mathematics achievement, suggesting it distorts the interpretation of prior research and presents a flawed interpretation of new research. Hypothesizes that the level of school funding and incidence of childhood poverty exert substantial, independent causal effects on student…

The comprehensive approach to arts education, moving art from the academic fringes into the core curriculum, is producing excellent results at one Bedford, Texas, elementary school. Students there are thinking smarter and performing better. Mathematics, reading, and writing scores on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills are steadily improving.…

Reviews evidence of students' increased math course-taking in the American College Testing database, based on systematic 10% samples of all students with valid ACT composite scores in 1987, 1990, 1993, and 1996 graduating classes. Students generally took more math courses in 1996. Since 1987, females increased math course taking and ACT test…

Presents one mathematician's view of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics national standards documents, discussing their history and highlighting specific notions, examples, concepts, phrases, and uses/misuses of the standards. Differentiates among what the standards say, what people think they say, and what teachers do in the classroom…

Discusses various views regarding the fundamental premises of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) original standards documents, examining concerns expressed by key stakeholders and noting that one of the problems with the standards is that the essence of the subject is lost. Describes mathematics education reform, curriculum…

An attitude survey of 184 men and 152 women with similar math backgrounds and ability found that women appeared to prefer rote over autonomous learning and familiar over novel situations. They felt less confident in their ability to do word problems. Attitudes rather than Scholastic Aptitude Test scores were more useful in predicting grades. (SK)