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Eric.ed.gov – Constructing a Secure Mathematics Pipeline for Minority Students. Math Research-Based Decision Making Series 9504.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This report examines issues in the low achievement of American students in mathematics, with emphasis on the low representation of minority students in this field. American myths about mathematics which emphasize the importance of innate ability rather than hard work are seen as reinforcing racial and gender stereotypes about who can do mathematics. Examples of prominent mathematicians and physicists whose lives counter these myths are offered. Comparisons are made showing that American students at all levels lag behind their foreign counterparts in mathematics achievement. Details of these comparisons and how they have influenced reform efforts in mathematics education are considered. Specific barriers to mathematics achievement experienced by minority students are identified and statistics showing minority underrepresentation in this field are detailed. The Strengthening Underrepresented Minority Mathematics Achievement… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Ability Grouping Effects on Lower Level Math Students’ Self-Concept and Achievement.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The differences in effects of heterogeneous and homogeneous regrouping for math on academic ability and self-concept in math were investigated. Five sixth-grade students from both grouping placements were interviewed to determine their self-concept of their math abilities. All students labeled as average or below from both placements were given an assessment of basic grade-level math skills. The classes containing these students were observed, and each placement had the same teacher providing all math instruction. The results indicated that the homogeneous students liked their math classes better and were more likely to compare themselves above their classmates in ability than the heterogeneous students. However, there were almost no differences between overall self-concept in math between the placements, and the scores on the assessment substantially favored the heterogeneous placement.… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Accelerated Math and Science Program Improvement Project Evaluation Report YR2.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The Accelerated Math and Science (AMS) Project is a 3 year program funded by the California Migrant Education Program Improvement Program. It targets 6th, 7th, and 8th grade low-achieving migrant students who are 2 to 4 years behind their language peer group. Two questions guided the second year evaluation study for the Region IX Migrant Education program: (1) How successful was the training provided to migrant students in science and math?, and (2) Did the attitude of participating migrant students change towards science and math? Middle schools, low achieving, migrant students (n=94) were recruited based upon: (1) inappropriate age/grade placement; (2) those students whose parents expressed a high degree of interest and commitment, to ensure student attendance in AMS; (3) students who had absentee rates of 10%… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – School Improvement Grants: Progress Report from America’s Great City Schools

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This report measures trends in performance among urban schools receiving federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) awards as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Council of the Great City Schools aims to document how member districts of the Council of the Great City Schools implemented SIG and specifically what effects the program had on student test scores and school “holding power”–the ability of high schools to move students through the system on a timely basis. Finally, based on interviews with district and school-based staff in several case study districts, common characteristics of successful and unsuccessful implementation of the SIG program in Council schools and districts are identified and described. Results of the analysis across states for grades three through eight in both… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Race to the Top. Florida Report. Year 3: School Year 2012-2013. [State-Specific Summary Report]

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This State-specific summary report serves as an assessment of the Florida’s annual Race to the Top implementation. The Year 3 report for Phase 1 and 2 grantees highlights successes and accomplishments, identifies challenges, and provides lessons learned from implementation from approximately September 2012 through September 2013. In Year 3, the State continued to execute contracts and implement activities consistent with the State’s amended timelines. In Year 3, Florida implemented the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in first grade and trained approximately 13,000 educators on implementing the CCSS during summer institutes. Florida Department of Education (FDOE) continued to add CCSS-aligned resources to the Teacher Standards Instructional Tool (TSIT). The State also continued the Math Formative Assessment System (MFAS) providing Florida educators access to approximately 374 tasks and rubrics… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Decimals and Percents. Math in Action. Teacher’s Guide & Resource and Duplicatable Blackline WorkMasters.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This is the teacher’s guide to an easy-to-read, slower paced mathematics text designed for students who have learning, reading, and language problems. Basic concepts and skills about decimals and percents, including computation with decimals and using proportions to solve percent problems, are presented. All 10 units begin with a brief discussion of how decimals or percents are used in real life. Lessons teach only one major concept on each page, and include comprehension exercises. Sixty-five duplicatable, blackline master worksheets are included in the teacher’s guide. They are organized to correspond with the student’s workbook. Teaching suggestions are briefly presented, as are notes for each page. An answer key for the student’s workbook is included. Comments on teaching students with special needs are also presented. (MNS) Link til… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Word Problems. Math in Action. Teacher’s Guide & Resource.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This teacher’s guide was designed to accompany five student workbooks: Math Language, Understanding Word Problems, Using a Calculator, Estimation, and Solving Word Problems. The series was specifically developed for low achieving students. The teaching gradually progresses in difficulty, but concepts are presented in small chunks that students can successfully handle. Questions within the text repeatedly involve the students’ attention, and their learning is checked and reviewed within each lesson. Word problem situations reflect mathematical problems that students would actually do. Following suggestions for how to present and use the workbooks, the guide contains over 200 blackline master worksheets. A description at the bottom of each page states the concept being developed, and the corresponding unit and page in the student’s workbook. Separate introductions are provided for each… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Algebra for All: The Effect of Algebra Coursework and Classroom Peer Academic Composition on Low-Achieving Students

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Algebra is often considered as a gateway for later achievement. A recent report by the Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) underscores the importance of improving algebra learning in secondary school. Today, a growing number of states and districts require algebra for all students in ninth grade or earlier. Chicago is at the forefront of this movement. Many low-achieving students took remedial math before 1997 and the algebra-for-all policy immersed these students in academic coursework for the first time. Moreover, these low-achieving students experienced a rise in the ability levels of their classroom peers. However, this study suggests that simply requiring algebra is insufficient to improve their outcomes, even though students may benefit from having higher achieving peers in their classrooms. Overall, taking Algebra, instead of remedial math, would… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Hallé SHINE on Manchester: Evaluation Report and Executive Summary

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The “Hallé SHINE on Manchester” (HSoM) programme is a Saturday school educational programme designed to increase the reading and maths attainment, as well as engagement with school, of underachieving and disadvantaged pupils at Key Stage 2. Developed in collaboration between the SHINE Trust and Hallé Orchestra, the intervention provides additional school-based literacy and numeracy lessons, based on musical themes, as well as visits to Hallé rehearsals, performances and other theme-based activities. Twenty-five Saturday sessions, each lasting five hours, were planned for the intervention over the course of an academic year, delivered by qualified teachers, teaching assistants, peer mentors, and professional musicians. The evaluation consisted of two randomised controlled trials (RCTs)–a pilot trial and a main trial–and a process evaluation conducted with primary schools in the Manchester area… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Effects of School Reform under NCLB Waivers: Evidence from Focus Schools in Kentucky. CEPA Working Paper No. 17-05

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Under waivers to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the federal government required states to identify schools where targeted subgroups of students have the lowest achievement and to implement reforms in these “Focus Schools.” In this study, we examine the Focus School reforms in the state of Kentucky. The reforms in this state are uniquely interesting for several reasons. One is that the state developed unusually explicit guidance for Focus Schools centered on a comprehensive school-planning process. Second, the state identified Focus Schools using a “super subgroup” measure that combined traditionally low-performing subgroups into an umbrella group. This design feature may have catalyzed broader whole-school reforms and attenuated the incentives to target reform efforts narrowly. Using regression discontinuity designs, we find that these reforms led to… Continue Reading