This occcasional paper is a dialog in the form of two separate papers about mathematics education: "Reaching Out to Colleagues and the Public:" A University Mathematician Engages School Mathematics Reform by Reid Davis, and "A Response to 'Reaching Out to Colleagues and the Public'" by Jeff Connor. Their differing views are illustrative of the…

Using data drawn from the 1977-1978 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in mathematics, it was found that background variables accounted for 25 percent of the variance in mathematics achievement. Exposure to mathematics courses explained an additional 34 percent of the variance. (Author/BW)

Interviews were used to find the frequency of different types of errors made by 95 sixth-year Papua New Guinea students on a mathematics test. The general trend was the same as for western students, but the Papua New Guinea students made far fewer careless errors. (MNS)

Describes an examination of the interaction of sustained attention, simultaneous processing, and successive processing with nine variables related to the reading, spelling, and mathematics achievement of 165 elementary students in New South Wales. Results suggest the importance of sustained attention to reading and spelling achievement but not to…

Boys and girls were given a measure of extraversion-introversion which was taken as an indication of their positions on the verbal-imagery learning style continuum and a test of reasoning ability. Three types of mathematics tests were given: computation, spatial relations and length. Two significant interactions were observed. (Author/AM)

Teachers' and pupils' use of time in secondary mathematics classes was observed. Results indicated that, on the average, pupils spent slightly more than half the time scheduled for mathematics on task. The rest of the time lost from instruction was attributed to absences, late starts of lessons, and off-task behavior. (Author/MJL)

Presents results of a diagnostic analysis of mathematics and science achievement data for Black students collected by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Identifies the taxonomic level (knowledge, skills, comprehension, application, and analysis) and content area of exercises on which Black students perform below the national average.…

This superintendent-mandated school improvement program has improved test scores and brought about teacher, student, and parent support for participating junior high schools. (Author)

This study examined general factors influencing mathematics performance as perceived by teachers and students. Eight fifth-grade mathematics classes were observed for five months. The students' self-concept of ability seemed a crucial construct, explaining performance differences and perception-of-task relevant characteristics such as nervousness,…

Evidence for discrepancy in mathematics performance between boys and girls is examined. Arguments suggesting that spatial ability is a primary genetic factor in mathematical achievement are considered, as are arguments based on social conditioning. It is concluded that cultural and social attitudes are the likely factors in girls' mathematical…

This study investigated differences in performance when sixth graders were presented with fractions in three contexts (understanding the meaning of fractions, computation with fractions, and solving word problems with fractions). Student performance varied significantly in different contexts, with the lowest performance observed on the…

A study examining performance differences on the Ohio Colleges Early Math Placement Test of students receiving algebra and geometry instruction in a traditional, year-long structure versus students in an intensified block structure found the traditional structure more effective. Using block scheduling for all courses and students is unwise. Some…

Reports on the performance and strategies of children working in one of three gender pairs (girls, boys, or boy/girl) on Geo-Logo tasks. The case studies presented reveal that the children showed a high level of engagement and learning in the Geo-Logo environment. Activities include the Turtle Paths curriculum unit, Missing Measures, and 200…

Reading and math achievement subtest scores on several standard achievement tests were compared for 233 students with mental retardation. Correlations were generally moderate among subtests purporting to measure similar constructs. Significant mean differences were present for five of seven reading test comparisons and for six of eight math…

Assesses etiology of reading disability as a function of mathematics performance by subjecting data from 168 same-sex twin pairs where at least one member was reading disabled to quantitative genetic analysis. Suggests that genetic factors may be especially salient as a cause of reading disability in children with borderline deficits in…