In the United States, fractions are an important part of the middle school curriculum, yet many middle school students struggle with fraction concepts. Teachers also have difficulty with the conceptual understanding needed to teach fractions and rely on textbooks when making instructional decisions. This reliance on textbooks, the idea that…

This study examined the extent to which seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics teachers are aware of National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards documents, Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics and Principles and Standards for School Mathematics and agree with NCTM's vision of school mathematics as expressed in…

The purpose of the study reported herein was to identify the important aspects of statistical knowledge that students in the middle school grades in United States are expected to learn as well as what the teachers are expected to teach. A systematic study of 49 states standards and one set of national standards was used to identify these important…

This study explored how mathematics content and methods courses for preservice elementary and middle school teachers could be improved through the integration of a set of instructional materials based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). A set of eight instructional modules was developed and tested. The study involved 7…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that diagrammatic literacy is necessary for success on standardized science tests at the late-elementary and middle grade levels. Towards this goal, we quantified the frequency, form and function of graphical representations on select state science tests. 985 tests items from 14 states were…

The unifying theme of models was incorporated into a required Science Capstone course for pre-service elementary teachers based on national standards in science and mathematics. A model of a teeter-totter was selected for use as an example of a functional model for gathering data as well as a visual model of a mathematical equation for developing…

Discusses the implications of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for mathematics curricula and instruction and provides three examples of lessons from problem-based curricula for various grades. (Author/MM)

Suggests that there is a cyclical relationship between standards and research. Examines how the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards have influenced the agenda for mathematics education research and stimulated research on the impact of those standards. (Author/MM)

Field investigations are not characterized by randomized and manipulated control group experiments; however, most school science and high-stakes tests recognize only this paradigm of investigation. Scientists in astronomy, genetics, field biology, oceanography, geology, and meteorology routinely select naturally occurring events and conditions and…

This article is about an investigation of six middle school science teachers' beliefs and instructional practice about the coherence of the science they teach as articulated by National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996). Many well intentioned reform efforts focus on improving content knowledge of teachers, but many classroom teachers…

Discusses the implementation and influence of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) three standards-focused documents since they were published eight years ago. (Author/ASK)

Summarizes and integrates the lessons learned from the last decade of professional development efforts based on the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Identifies fundamental challenges to such reform and indicates strategies that have been helpful in overcoming these obstacles. (Author/MM)

A total of 257 children in grades 2-5 were individually interviewed to find the grade level at which they demonstrated transitive reasoning and unit iteration in the measurement of volume. Concludes that the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standard expecting children to understand units of measurement by grade 2 is unrealistic.…

Relates standards for mathematics education in North Carolina to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics". Reports on a symposium attended by educational leaders in North Carolina to inform them of the NCTM standards. (Author/MM)

Describes electronic resources designed to illuminate the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics". Provides a vehicle for further discussion of the vision put forth in the Standards. (Author/MM)