This study examined the relationship between high school mathematics curricula and student achievement and course-taking patterns over 4 years of college course taking for a sample of over 10,000 students from 32 postsecondary 4-year institutions. Three types of curricula were studied: National Science Foundation (NSF) funded curricula, the…

This retrospective study examined the impact of prior mathematics achievement on the relationship between high school mathematics curricula and student postsecondary mathematics performance. The sample (N = 4,144 from 266 high schools) was partitioned into 3 strata by ACT mathematics scores. Students completing 3 or more years of a commercially…

This study examined achievement patterns of middle school students enrolled in Standards-based curricula, in particular those curricula that were funded from a solicitation of proposals through the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the early 1990s (NSF RFP 91-100). Approximately 1400 middle-grades students who had used either the Connected…

The current study examined the mathematical achievement of high school students enrolled for 3 years in one of three NSF funded "Standards"-based curricula (IMP, CMIC, MMOW). The focus was on traditional topics in mathematics as measured by subtests of a standardized achievement test and a criterion-referenced test of mathematics achievement.…

Contrasts student achievement using commercial curricula (CC) for initial fraction learning with that of using the Rational Number Project (RNP) fraction curriculum. Indicates that students using RNP materials had statistically higher mean scores on concepts, order, transfer, and estimation. Interview data showed differences in the quality of…

A survey is discussed in which philosophies of mathematics and its teaching were studied. Significant differences occurred between secondary school principals and university or college mathematics teacher educators and between secondary school mathematics teachers and university or college mathematics teacher educators. (MN)

Geometry students were randomly assigned to treatments in which they received (1) instruction in general problem solving procedures in addition to geometry or (2) regular geometry instruction. No significant differences attributable to treatments were found on a subsequent problem solving test. (SD)

Fourth-grade students' understanding of the order and equivalence of fractions was investigated in an 18-week teaching experiment. Three related characteristics of thinking are hypothesized to be related to success of such tasks, involving flexibility and reasoning that becomes increasingly independent of specific concrete embodiments. (MNS)