A study involving 88 eighth-graders investigated the relationship between students' self-concept, both in a global sense and more specific areas, with achievement scores in reading and mathematics. Results found a significant correlation between global self-concept and reading achievement and a weaker positive correlation for mathematics…

Used data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study for Canada to study the stability of within-school socioeconomic gaps in mathematics and science achievement. Discusses the success of schools and teachers in fighting socioeconomic gaps in mathematics and science achievement. (SLD)

Examines the relationship among self-concept, self-efficacy, and performance in mathematics among 416 high school students. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the existence of two self-concept components--a competency component and an affective component. Self-efficacy items and the competency items of self-concept also loaded on a single…

This follow-up study surveyed earlier winners of the St. Petersburg (Russia) mathematical Olympiad in 1991 (n=58) and 2001 (n=30). Findings are detailed concerning respondents' academic degrees, employment, publications, schools attended, and perceived quality of mathematical education. Respondents' views about education were conservative and…

First- and second-grade cohorts in public and Catholic school Chapter 1 programs were compared. Catholic schooling did not have a significant effect on mathematics and reading test scores. Findings did not change when first-grade school-level scores were used to account for selection bias in the fourth-grade cohort. (Contains 22 references.) (JOW)

Investigates the gap in math and science achievement of third- and fourth-graders who live with a single parent versus those who live with two parents in 11 countries. Finds single parenthood to be less detrimental when family policies equalize resources between single- and two-parent families. Concludes that national family policies can offset…

Using Longitudinal Study of American Youth data, researchers investigated factors related to middle and high school students' learning or growth in statistics, algebra, and geometry. Results indicated substantial growth in all three content areas in both middle and high school. Factors related to student learning included student characteristics…

Contends that in order to improve middle school mathematics achievement in the United States, "explain-practice-memorize" teaching methods need to give way to problem solving, solution inventing, and reflecting on work, while avoiding anxiety. Presents a series of solutions focusing on classroom strategies, lesson plans, resources for…

Describes how school improvement goals align with the Illinois Learning Standards to ultimately develop a school's mathematics goals. Reports that "Math Wizard Wednesdays" were offered as part of a school-wide goal, and as an intervention for students and staff that served as an ongoing reminder of improvement goals. (Contains 11 figures…

Studied how attitudinal and instructional variables differed for students in Cyprus, Hong Kong, and the United States and how these variables were related to mathematics performance on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). (SLD)

Explores the relationship between nations' level of economic development and the influence of adolescents' social backgrounds on their academic achievement. Using data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, results reveal that the positive effect of higher parents' education on middle-school students' mathematics test scores…

Performed a baseline assessment of the new curriculum standards of mathematics for elementary education in Flanders, studying the achievement of 5,763 sixth graders. Overall, the more innovative curriculum standards were less likely to be well mastered. Few gender differences in performance were observed. (SLD)

Reports on part of a 10-year interval longitudinal study on teacher assessment practices in Auckland, New Zealand. Indicates that primary teachers are using a variety of assessment strategies in a mastery-based system and secondary teachers commonly use alternative assessment strategies in non-examination classes. Suggests that an education system…

Hierarchical analysis of a test battery of sentence span, preload, and concurrent memory demand tasks was used to identify subgroups of children with different patterns of memory function. For each subgroup, performance strengths and weaknesses were related to reading, mathematics, and spelling performance. (Author/DB)

Investigated was the influence of socioeconomic status, entry style, and instructional variables on postsecondary mathematics performance of students in New Guinea. The pattern of results indicated that the performance of students could be more meaningfully grouped based on entry style rather than on mode of instruction. (Author/CW)