Science Achievement in the Middle School Years

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher: International Study Center Lynch School of Educatio College
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Third International Mathematics and Science Study is the largest and most ambitious study ever undertaken by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Forty-five countries collected data in more than 30 languages. Five grade levels were tested in the two subject areas. This report describes the science achievement of seventh and eighth graders, emphasizing the results from the eighth-grade assessment. Results are presented for the 41 countries that completed all the steps necessary to appear in this report. Singapore was the top performing country at both grade levels, with Colombia, Kuwait, and South Africa performing at the lowest levels. Perhaps the most striking finding was the large difference in average achievement between the top-performing and bottom-performing countries. Results provided a chain of overlapping countries, with most countries having an average achievement similar to that of a cluster of others, but with large differences between the top and bottom of the chain. In most countries and internationally, boys outperformed girls at both grade levels. The majority of eighth graders in nearly every country indicated that they liked science, but not all students had positive feelings about the subject. Home factors were strongly related to achievement in every participating country, but relationships between science achievement and instructional practices were less clear within and across countries. Six appendixes present information on study methodology and selected achievement results for some countries. (Contains 61 tables, 23 appendix tables, 19 figures, and 1 appendix figure.) (SLD)

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher: International Study Center Lynch School of Educatio College
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Third International Mathematics and Science Study is the largest and most ambitious study ever undertaken by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Forty-five countries collected data in more than 30 languages. Five grade levels were tested in the two subject areas. This report describes the science achievement of seventh and eighth graders, emphasizing the results from the eighth-grade assessment. Results are presented for the 41 countries that completed all the steps necessary to appear in this report. Singapore was the top performing country at both grade levels, with Colombia, Kuwait, and South Africa performing at the lowest levels. Perhaps the most striking finding was the large difference in average achievement between the top-performing and bottom-performing countries. Results provided a chain of overlapping countries, with most countries having an average achievement similar to that of a cluster of others, but with large differences between the top and bottom of the chain. In most countries and internationally, boys outperformed girls at both grade levels. The majority of eighth graders in nearly every country indicated that they liked science, but not all students had positive feelings about the subject. Home factors were strongly related to achievement in every participating country, but relationships between science achievement and instructional practices were less clear within and across countries. Six appendixes present information on study methodology and selected achievement results for some countries. (Contains 61 tables, 23 appendix tables, 19 figures, and 1 appendix figure.) (SLD)

Mathematics Achievement in the Middle School Years

Mathematics Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781889938028
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description


Mathematics Achievement in the Middle School Years

Mathematics Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 264

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest and most ambitious study undertaken by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. Forty-five countries collected data in more than 30 languages. Five grade levels were tested in the two subject areas, so that more than half a million students were tested around the world. This report addresses middle-school mathematics achievement (grades seven and eight) in six content areas: (1) fractions and number sense; (2) measurement; (3) proportionality; (4) data representation, analysis, and probability; (5) geometry; and (6) algebra. Results cover 41 countries with complete data collection. Singapore was the top-performing country at both grade levels, with Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong also performing very well. There were large differences in average achievement between top performers and bottom performing nations. Gender differences in mathematics achievement were small or nearly nonexistent in most countries, but when they did appear, they favored boys. In nearly every country there was a strong positive relationship between student enjoyment of mathematics and higher achievement. Home factors were strongly related to mathematics achievement in every participating country, but relationships between instructional variables and achievement were less clear. In every country, the pattern was for the eighth grade student whose parents had more education to also have higher achievement in mathematics. The amount of television viewing was negatively associated with mathematics achievement. The document's introduction provides information on each country's characteristics including demographics, public expenditures on education, organization of educational system. Chapters address: (1) International Student Achievement in Mathematics; (2) Average Achievement; (3) Performance on Items within Each Mathematics Content Area; (4) Students Backgrounds and Attitudes towards Mathematics; and (5) Teachers and Instruction. Appendixes include: Overview of TIMSS Procedures; Test-Curriculum Matching Analysis; Selected Mathematics Achievement Eighth-Grade Results for the Philippines, Denmark, Sweden, and German-Speaking Switzerland; and Percentiles and Standard Deviations of Mathematics Achievement. (SLD)

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780160636288
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Get Book Here

Book Description


Science Achievement in the Middle School Years

Science Achievement in the Middle School Years PDF Author: Albert E. Beaton
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781889838038
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Get Book Here

Book Description


Mathematics Achievement in the Primary School Years

Mathematics Achievement in the Primary School Years PDF Author: Ina V. S. Mullis
Publisher: Timss International Study Center
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 262

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is the largest and most ambitious international comparative study designed to provide policy makers, educators, researchers, and practitioners with information about educational achievement and learning contexts. Data were collected from 45 countries in more than 30 different languages. Five grade levels were tested in the two subject areas, totaling more than half a million students tested around the world. The six content dimensions covered in the TIMSS mathematics tests given to the primary school students include: whole numbers; fractions and proportionality; measurement, estimation, and number sense; data representation, analysis, and probability; geometry; and patterns, relations, and functions. The results in this report describe students' mathematics achievement at both the third and fourth grade levels. About one quarter of the questions were in the free-response format requiring students to generate and write their answers. Chapters include: (1) "International Student Achievement in Mathematics"; (2) "Average Achievement in the Mathematics Content Areas"; (3) Performance on Items within Each Mathematics Content Area"; (4) "Students' Backgrounds and Attitudes towards Mathematics"; (5) "Teachers and Instruction". Appendices contain an overview of TIMSS procedures, the test-curriculum matching analysis, and percentiles and standard deviations of mathematics achievement. (JRH)

The Impact of Reform Instruction on Student Mathematics Achievement

The Impact of Reform Instruction on Student Mathematics Achievement PDF Author: Thomas A. Romberg
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135855706
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 198

Get Book Here

Book Description
Summarizing data derived from a study of the implementation of one standards-based middle school curriculum program, Mathematics in Context, this book demonstrates the challenges of conducting comparative longitudinal research in the reality of school life.

Helping Children Learn Mathematics

Helping Children Learn Mathematics PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309131987
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 53

Get Book Here

Book Description
Results from national and international assessments indicate that school children in the United States are not learning mathematics well enough. Many students cannot correctly apply computational algorithms to solve problems. Their understanding and use of decimals and fractions are especially weak. Indeed, helping all children succeed in mathematics is an imperative national goal. However, for our youth to succeed, we need to change how we're teaching this discipline. Helping Children Learn Mathematics provides comprehensive and reliable information that will guide efforts to improve school mathematics from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The authors explain the five strands of mathematical proficiency and discuss the major changes that need to be made in mathematics instruction, instructional materials, assessments, teacher education, and the broader educational system and answers some of the frequently asked questions when it comes to mathematics instruction. The book concludes by providing recommended actions for parents and caregivers, teachers, administrators, and policy makers, stressing the importance that everyone work together to ensure a mathematically literate society.

A Study of Middle School Mathematics Achievement

A Study of Middle School Mathematics Achievement PDF Author: Barbara Ann Popp
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Action research in education
Languages : en
Pages : 372

Get Book Here

Book Description
This action research study explored the current middle school mathematics program in the study district. The focus was to explore the factors contributing to the decrease in student mathematics performance and achievement and to develop a school improvement plan that will result in positive changes in mathematics performance and achievement. In 1957, when the U.S.S.R. launched Sputnik into space, the level of mathematics achievement of students in our nation became a major concern to educators and non-educators alike (Marzano, 2003). Sputnik shocked the American people who saw this as a threat to our national security, economy, and political system. The resulting concern ultimately prompted a focus on mathematics and science education in the United States. President Obama has recently called for our nations schools to prepare our students as future adult citizens and workers in a globally independent and innovation driven economy. The challenges facing mathematics educators continue to be a major focus as we seek to find ways to prepare our students to follow their dreams, to fulfill their personal ambitions, and prepare them for life in the 21st century. This mixed-method research study used a triangulation approach and collected qualitative and quantitative data concurrently. Data sources included a review of documents and artifacts, teacher survey, teacher walk-through observations, and teacher reflective journals. The second phase of the research included qualitative interviews with administrators and teachers. The interview questions were designed from the results of the previously collected data. Analysis of the data identified the key areas included in the middle school improvement plan. The plan included action plans that focused on equity and excellence for all and the need to: develop professional learning communities for teachers to grow professionally and discuss ways to improve learning though collaboration; revise the mathematics curriculum to ensure it is guaranteed and viable; provide ongoing support for teachers on implementing the curriculum; and to develop a system that supports and monitors the teaching and learning of mathematics. Further action research is encouraged as the district moves forward in implementing the school improvement plan included in this study.

Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study

Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study PDF Author: Michael S. Garet
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 208

Get Book Here

Book Description
Student achievement in mathematics has been a focal concern in the United States for many years. The National Research Council's 2001 report and the recent report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) both called attention to student achievement in mathematics, and both called for all students to learn algebra by the end of eighth grade. Reports have argued, further, that achieving this goal requires that students first successfully learn several topics in rational numbers--fractions, decimals, ratio, rate, proportion, and percent. These topics are typically covered in grades 4 through 7, yet many students continue to struggle with them beyond the seventh grade. The National Mathematics Advisory Panel wrote that--difficulty with fractions (including decimals and percent) is pervasive and is a major obstacle to further progress in mathematics, including algebra. The panel also specified that by the end of seventh grade, students should be able to solve problems involving percent, ratio, and rate, and extend this work to proportionality. The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Educational Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE)--within the Institute of Education Sciences--initiated the Middle School Mathematics Professional Development Impact Study to test the impact of a professional development (PD) program for teachers that was designed to address the problem of low student achievement in topics in rational numbers. The study focuses on seventh grade, the culminating year for teaching those topics and has three central research questions: (1) What impact did the PD program provided in this study have on teacher knowledge of rational number topics? (2) What impact did the PD program provided in this study have on teacher instructional practices? and (3) What impact did the PD program provided in this study have on student achievement in rational number topics? The study produced the following results: (1) The study's PD program was implemented as intended; (2) The PD program did not produce a statistically significant impact on teacher knowledge of rational numbers (effect size = 0.19, p-value = 0.15); (3) The PD program had a statistically significant impact on the frequency with which teachers engaged in activities that elicited student thinking, one of the three measures of instructional practice used in the study (effect size = 0.48); and (4) The PD program did not produce a statistically significant impact on student achievement (effect size = 0.04, p-value = 0.37). This report presents the study's findings after 1 year of implementing the PD in the treatment schools. A subsequent report will present findings after 2 years of implementing the PD. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the study. Chapter 2 describes the study design and its realization, including a description of the sample and tests of baseline equivalence of the treatment and control groups on observed characteristics. Chapter 3 describes the design and implementation of the PD program and the extent of service contrast between the treatment and control groups. Chapter 4 addresses the impact of the PD program on teacher knowledge, instructional practice, and student mathematics achievement. Chapter 5 provides several nonexperimental analyses that explore additional questions related to the impact findings. Appended are: (1) Data Collection; (2) Details of the Study Samples and Analytic Approaches; (3) Supplemental Information on the Design and Implementation of the PD Program; (4) Supporting Tables and Figures for Impact Analyses; and (5) Exploratory Analyses: Approaches and Additional Results. (Contains 9 exhibits, 9 figures, and 90 tables.).