Within initial teacher education there is increasing pressure to enhance the use of assessment data to support students to improve their knowledge and skills, and to determine what standards they meet upon graduation. For such data to be useful, both programme designers and students require meaningful and comprehensive assessment reports on…

Drawing on various approaches to the study of mathematics learning, Gersten, Jordan, and Flojo (in this issue) explore the implications of this research for identifying children at risk for developing mathematical disabilities. One of the key topics Gersten et al. consider in their review is that of "number sense." I expand on their…

Reviews two areas of concern in precollege science and mathematics education: (1) public ignorance of mathematical, scientific, and technological phenomena and (2) shortage of individuals competent and willing to teach science/mathematics. Focusing on the latter, includes comments (with possible solutions) from science educators, politicians, and…

Explores how to develop children's understanding of mathematical vocabulary. Presents a lesson in which the class works on the concept of dimension, and issues raised by a discussion of applied linguistics and mathematics education. Discussion was stimulated by advice from the National Numeracy Strategy (NNS) vocabulary book. (KHR)

The author addresses mathematics instruction in students' second language. Theories on the interaction of language and cognitive development, and language and mathematical thinking, as well as studies conducted with bilingual students, are presented along with their implications for teaching, texts, and curriculum development. These ideas are…