The American Association of Colleges and Universities reports that over 50% of the students entering colleges and universities are academically under prepared; that is, according to Miller and Murray (2005), students "lack basic skills in at least one of the three fundamental areas of reading, writing, and mathematics" (paragraph 4). Furthermore,…

In 3 experiments, the authors examined mathematical problem solving performance under pressure. In Experiment 1, pressure harmed performance on only unpracticed problems with heavy working memory demands. In Experiment 2, such high-demand problems were practiced until their answers were directly retrieved from memory. This eliminated choking under…

This research article examines math anxiety in pre-service teachers. The Mathematics Anxiety Scale-Revised (MARS-R) was administered to 481 university students. Significant results were found in areas of gender, educational level, and educational major. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)

Holds that virtually all children possess informal abilities required for school success and that most problems in school mathematics stem from social, personality, or educational factors. Describes children's informal mathematical thinking, presents clinical observations, and discusses implications for instruction of children experiencing…

This study examined classes at a university within each of four disciplines that differed in the degree to which they emphasized mathematical/quantitative skills. The disciplines were: (1) Social/Behavioral Sciences; (2) Business; (3) Physical Sciences; and (4) Applied Mathematics. A number of distinctive characteristics were found for each…

Investigated mathematics anxiety effects in engineering and technical college students (N=381). Found lack of any significant gender differences in regard to mathematical ability, anxiety, and performance. Recommends further research in differences in mathematics experience, self-efficacy beliefs, or interpersonal processes. (ABL)

Discussed are experiences with students having mathematics anxiety. Describes how to increase the students' confidence and a method of guided practice. (YP)

Discusses the implementation of a family math night. Describes three activities for the night: (1) graphing; (2) estimation; and (3) problem solving. Provides two references. (YP)

Asked 391 students to provide 3 types of mathematics self-efficacy judgments. Students' reported confidence to answer the problems they were later asked to solve proved a more powerful predictor of that performance than either their confidence to perform math-related tasks or to succeed in math-related courses. (RJM)

"The Price is Right" ("TPIR") is a rich source of examples of applied probability, combinatorics, and game theory. While some of the games played on stage by individual contestants stress a knowledge of pricing, many are also heavily based on probability. "TPIR" stage games are a treasury of interesting modules that can be effective learning tools…

This study was performed using a convenience sample of 90 students at a northeastern community college to determine gender differences of math anxiety and its effect on math avoidance. Four sections of an introductory English class were given a mathematics anxiety rating scale (MARS) and a math avoidance survey. Five hypotheses were analyzed using…

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)

This kit is designed to develop the adult numeracy skills of literacy and mathematics trained teachers in Australia using a participatory workshop approach. The kit is divided into five chapters. Each chapter contains theoretical and background information, a sequence of structured activities in which participating teachers actively engage, and…

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…

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…