This report refocuses the international comparisons of eighth-grade students' achievement with the view to highlighting the place of the United States among the nations. A second component looks at the performance of sections of the eighth-grade student population against the same kind of international benchmarks. A third component picks up the…

Theory on parenting styles was used as a theoretical framework to examine the relationship of aspects of school climate to the mathematics achievement, academic engagement, and locus of control orientation of eighth graders. Student and school data were drawn from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 for 19,435 students and 997…

In 1998 it became apparent that support for state assessments in Spanish at the elementary level was waning in Colorado, and it was likely that only an English-language version would be available for the grade 5 mathematics assessment in 1999. A study was conducted to provide empirical results to inform decisions regarding language accommodations…

This study compared intact beginning fifth grade classes in one of the districts in Shanghai, People's Republic of China to American Norms on the KeyMath-Revised: A Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Mathematics (KeyMath-R) and the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-3). The review of literature contrasted the two cultures with regard to students,…

A study provides a deeper understanding of teaching elementary mathematics in France. France performed creditably in mathematics on both the Second International Mathematics Study (SIMS) and the Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS). In analyzing the French approach to teaching elementary mathematics, three theoretical frames are…

The intent of this study was to determine if attendance in a good quality prekindergarten program using developmentally appropriate activities had a positive effect on kindergarten mathematics readiness skills and achievement. Participating were 80 children, 4 to 6 years old, divided into two experimental and two control groups. Standardized test…

This report is incorporated into "Attaining Excellence: A TIMSS Resource Kit." Released in Fall 1997, the TIMSS resource kit was developed for educators and those interested in using TIMSS data to improve teaching, curricula, and student achievement in state and local communities. This module presents information about the grade 8…

Middle school data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are analyzed in this study to compare achievement differences between adjacent grades. To facilitate this computer-based analysis, a Statistical Analysis System (SAS) program has been developed to transpose matrices of the item scores in more than 40 countries.…

The purpose of this study was to examines the relationship between students' core knowledge and their achievement in mathematics and reading on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. The study was based on E. D. Hirsch's theory that having a strong foundation of core knowledge in one grade is necessary for growth and the understanding of new and more…

During the final three weeks of the school year, children in North Carolina take the state-required multiple-choice North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests in Reading and Mathematics. The End-of-Grade Testing Parent/Teacher Report provides test scores and information to understand their child?s scores. In addition, the End-of-Grade Testing…

The North Carolina Pretest?Grade 3 is administered to all grade 3 students during the first three weeks of school. The pretest measures the knowledge and skills specified for grade 2 from the reading and mathematics goals and objectives of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The pretest is used in the determination of growth in student…

This report focuses on the performance of students with disabilities and limited English proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). The MCAs are used for accountability purposes at the district level for grades 3 and 5 in Reading and Mathematics. Newly developed MCAs in grades 10 (reading) and 11 (mathematics) that were…

The achievement gap between low-income African American students and their White counterparts remains substantial. To address this, researchers have begun to examine the impact of culture on cognitive performance among African American students (Lee, 2001; Foster, Lewis, & Onafowora, 2003). The findings from this work suggest that when aspects of…

This report is one of a series of reports produced by a research partnership supported by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) involving researchers, teachers, local administrators, and state education and tribal officials. The partnership is engaged in a long-term research project that includes reviewing research and related…

Results from testing long division with students from age 11 to Continuing Education were traced. A much higher percentage of wrong answers was given when there was an embedded zero in the answer. (MNS)