Discusses the differences between mathematical problem solving typically used in the classroom and problem solving that is a part of everyday situations out of school. Suggests some teaching methods to align classroom instruction with the real world. Seventeen references are listed. (YP)

Discusses ways to correct a gender-related mathematics myth. Describes three tasks acquainting students with female-mathematician role models, including interviews, displays, and biographical sketches. (20 references) (YP)

Mathematics is perceived as a boring subject by some secondary students. Lists and describes 10 types of mathematical surprises across the secondary mathematics curriculum that help to make mathematics more interesting. (YP)

Discusses factors leading to mathematics anxiety, including personality factors, pressure from authority figures, time pressure, public failure, the right/wrong dichotomy, constructive criticism, and competition. Suggests a number of specific ways that parents and teachers can help reduce students' anxiety. (MKR)

Proposes offering college students an optional performance contract that requires full class participation and resubmission of incorrect test items to alleviate mathematics anxiety. A comparison of students opting or not opting for the contract indicated that contracted students outperformed their counterparts in the latter stages of the course.…

Presents and discusses three instruments to evaluate: (1) student self-assessment; (2) assessment of cooperative learning tasks; and (3) student assessment of their teacher's effectiveness. Examples of the instruments are provided. (MDH)

Describes a comprehensive program developed at the University of Minnesota to help adult students who suffer from mathematics anxiety. The three components of the program--a diagnostic clinic, individualized tutoring, and content courses--are designed to analyze student needs, both mathematical and emotional, and to address those needs in a…

Contends that most students have potential to be successful in college level mathematics course if they develop requisite skills, self-motivation, and confidence to overcome academic deficiencies and memories of past negative learning experiences. Sees counselor as potentially useful in providing assessment and intervention strategies to deal with…

This study investigated the development of abstract mathematical thought and spatial relations of 13- and 14-year-old students who attended public schools in Australia, Japan, and the United States. Dependent variables included age, ability grouping, ethnicity, sex, mathematics attitudes, and mathematics classroom behaviors. Significant…

College students having a poor high school mathematics background or returning to school after many years may want concrete tips and procedures to help them improve their grades in mathematics. This book provides those tips and procedures proven effective in improving a student's ability to learn mathematics and take tests. Pre-test study skills…

Presented are abstracts and analyses of eleven research reports related to mathematics education. Five deal with aspects of learning theory, three with classroom practices, and one each on student characteristics, cognitive development, and mathematics anxiety. Research related to mathematics education which was reported in RIE and CIJE between…

The basic question considered in this research practicum was did female students' participation in a special six-week mathematics clinic significantly reduce anxiety towards mathematics. Seventeen female participants completed both a pre and post Aiken-Dreger Math Attitude Scale. A t-test was used to compare the mean pretest and mean posttest…

Avoidance of higher mathematics courses by women students is discussed. Programs to help students overcome their mathematics anxiety are described. (DT)

Explores aspects of math avoidance 'syndrome' among elementary and secondary students of American Indian and Alaskan Native backgrounds, emphasizing the role of linguistic factors and familiarity with traditional tribal strategies for mathematical problem solving. Available from Linguistic Association of the Southwest, Department of English,…

Explores forms of passive behavior in poor math students. Twenty grade six students participated in this study. Two forms of passive behavior are discussed, one concerning encoding new knowledge and the other involving risk-taking in unmastered tasks. Also observes the reluctance of poor students to risk making a guess on problems that were not…