Comparing math teaching practices in Japan and Germany with those the United States, two leading researchers offer a surprising new view of bold action plan for improving education inside American classroom.For years our schools children have lagged behind international standards reading, arithmetic, most other areas academic achievement. It is no secret that are dire need improvement, has become nation's number-one priority. But even though almost every state country working to develop...

To improve classroom teaching in a steady, lasting way, the profession needs knowledge base that grows and improves. In spite of continuing efforts researchers, archived research has had little effect on improvement practice average classroom. We explore possibility building useful for by beginning with practitioners’ knowledge. outline key features this identify requirements to be transformed into professional teaching. By reviewing educational history, we offer an incomplete explanation...

We argue that reform in curriculum and instruction should be based on allowing students to problematize the subject. Rather than mastering skills applying them, engaged resolving problems. In mathematics, this principle fits under umbrella of problem solving, but our interpretation is different from many problem-solving approaches. first note history solving has been infused with a distinction between acquiring knowledge it. then propose alternative by building John Dewey’s idea “reflective...

To investigate relationships between teaching and learning mathematics, the six second-grade classrooms in one school were observed regularly during 12 weeks of instruction on place value multidigit addition subtraction. Two implemented an alternative to more conventional textbook approach. The approach emphasized constructing computation strategies rather than practicing prescribed procedures. Students assessed at beginning end year understanding, routine computation, novel computation....

The authors propose a framework for teacher preparation programs that aims to help prospective teachers learn how teach from studying teaching. is motivated by their interest in defining set of competencies provide deliberate, systematic path becoming an effective over time. composed four skills, rooted the daily activity teaching, when deployed deliberately and systematically, constitute process creating testing hypotheses about cause-effect relationships between teaching learning during...

For several historical and cultural reasons, the United States has long pursued a strategy of improving teaching by teachers. The rarely questioned logic underlying this choice says that right characteristics teachers, they will teach more effectively. authors expose assumptions on which is built, propose an alternative approach to engages teachers (and researchers) directly in work teaching, present some indirect evidence support approach, examine traditions beliefs have kept conventional...

The current debates about the future of mathematics education often lead to confusion role that research should play in settling disputes. On one hand, researchers are called upon resolve issues really values and priorities, and, on other is ignored when empirical evidence essential. When appropriately solicited, expectations overestimate, or underestimate, what can provide. In this article, by distinguishing between problems calibrating appropriate for research, I address shaping standards....

AbstractExamining the extent, nature, and scope of peer group influence on academic outcomes is an important direction for future research to enrich our understanding adolescent motivation, engagement, achievement. Conceptual methodological issues involved in studying groups are discussed. Existing that addresses reviewed. Processes how socialize achievement beliefs behaviors considered. Promising directions

Results from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Video of Teaching show that many teachers in United States believe they are changing way teach while retain core traditional practice. video study, which also included Germany Japan, along with comparisons teacher development systems, help to explain persistence teaching methods point a new model for improving teaching. After presenting results study regarding teachers' perceptions effects recent reforms on their...

Researchers from 4 projects with a problem-solving approach to teaching and learning multidigit number concepts operations describe (a) common framework of conceptual structures children construct for numbers (b) categories methods devise addition subtraction. For each the quantitative 2-digit numbers, somewhat different triad relations is established between words, written 2digit marks, quantities. The conceptions are unitary, decade ones, sequence-tens separate-tens integrated...

The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video examined eighth-grade mathematics teaching in the United States six higher-achieving countries. A range of systems were found across countries that balanced attention to challenging content, procedural skill, conceptual understanding different ways. displayed a unique system teaching, not because any particular feature but constellation features reinforced lower-level skills. authors argue these results are relevant for...

Abstract We traced the emerging relations between children's understanding of multidigit numbers and their computational skill investigated how instruction influenced these relations. followed about 70 children over first 3 years school while they were learning place value addition subtraction in 2 different instructional environments. By interviewing students several times each year, we found that closely related on tasks for which had not yet received as well more difficult even after...

The goal of this study is to uncover the successes and challenges that preservice teachers are likely experience as they unpack lesson-level mathematical learning goals (i.e., identify subconcepts subskills feed into target goals). Unpacking a form specialized knowledge for teaching, an essential starting point studying improving one's teaching. Thirty K–8 completed 4 written tasks. Each task specified then asked complete teaching activity with in mind. For example, were evaluate whether...

To solve two enduring problems in education—unacceptably large variation learning opportunities for students across classrooms and little continuing improvement the quality of instruction—the authors propose a system that centers on creation shared instructional products guide classroom teaching. By examining systems outside inside education build useful knowledge improving performance their members, induce three features support work culture creating such products: All members share same...

Forty-three first-grade children who had received no formal instruction in addition and subtraction were individually administered 10 verbal problems. These problems selected to represent the following semantic types: Joining, Separating, Part-Part-Whole, Comparison, Equalizing. In spite of lack instruction, most successfully solved general, children's solution processes consistent with a predictive model proposing that would directly action or relationship described individual