Analyzes questionnaire data from 52 third- and fourth-grade teachers. Asks teachers to consider boys' and girls' achievement in mathematics, stating their views on the reasons for students' successes and failures and describing their learning characteristics. Discusses stereotypical teacher beliefs that might help explain gender differences in…

The cyclical nature of mathematics grades was studied for a cohort of elementary school students from a large metropolitan school district in Texas over six years (average cohort size of 8495). The study used an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. Results indicate that grades do exhibit a significant cyclical pattern. (SLD)

Suggests that the differences existing between the view of algebra as a mandated course at a specified grade level and the view of algebra as a way of mathematical thinking and reasoning developed gradually over time must be positively integrated to help students develop a genuine capacity for algebraic thinking and reasoning. (AIM)

Explains the approach of integrating notions of algebra in problem-solving experiences and the design of instructional activities that integrate nonroutine, nontraditional problems. Presents some problems and students' interpretations, conjectures, and generalizations about the patterns they discovered. (AIM)

Examined the impact of parent-school involvement on Title I second through eighth graders' reading and mathematics achievement, noting the effect of student gender and socioeconomic status (SES). Student testing data, SES data, and information on parent involvement indicated that parental involvement, regardless of child's gender or SES, was a…

Reports research into the conceptions of mathematics, orientations to studying it, and experiences of learning it of 300 Australian first-year university students. Results suggest two qualitatively different experiences of learning mathematics. Differences in students' conceptions of mathematics were related to their experiences and their…

Voluntary national tests based on national and international benchmarks can be powerful tools for change in all schools. The tests would help monitor students' progress at two key educational junctures--fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math. Tests would be based on the National Assessment of Education Progress content frameworks and…

An evaluation of the Primary Education Quality Improvement Project in Indonesia illustrates that combining the knowledge base and methodology of educational effectiveness research and cost-effectiveness analysis provides fruitful possibilities for future theoretical/practical developments in both approaches. PEQIP positively affected student…

A study assessed the predictive value of kindergarten teachers on 234 pupils for later first-grade academic achievement. Ratings of academic performance were significantly correlated with scores on outcome measures on math and reading ability. Results indicated high overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of the…

Describes children's gains in two areas during the kindergarten year: overall reading and mathematics knowledge and skills and specific knowledge and skills. Examines differences by child, family, and school characteristics. Data are from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, which will follow these students from kindergarten through fifth…

Examines the relationship between early childhood education and primary school academic achievement in the Solomon Islands. Notes factors influencing higher performance in reading comprehension and mathematics skills, and use of age appropriate materials. Offers insights for educators, policy planners, communities, and families. (JPB)

Describes a study that maps the performance of entering undergraduates on secondary school level mathematics items, compares the actual student performance with that estimated by practicing teachers, and identifies the level of agreement demonstrated by the teachers regarding expectations of student performance. (ASK)

Presents an executive summary of a white paper prepared for the U.S. Secretary of Education. Provides information about the mathematics and science courses that students take in middle school and high school and their effects on student achievement. (ASK)

Investigated whether kindergarten students who played Sony PlayStation educational video games for 40 minutes daily for 11 weeks learned better than peers who did not play such games. Found that the experimental group gained significantly more than the control group in spelling and decoding on the Wide Range Achievement Test-R3. Found no…

Studied the effects of 120 hours of chess instruction on the mathematics achievement of southern, rural, black secondary students. Analysis of covariance results show the treatment group (11 females, 9 males) scored significantly higher than the control group (10 females, 10 males) in mathematics achievement. Discusses results in terms of altering…