Classroom Context: Mathematics Coursework

As part of the 2009 mathematics assessment, teachers of fourth-graders were asked about mathematics coursework in terms of emphasis on mathematical content areas. The full text of the question, the corresponding percentages, and scale scores of students whose teachers responded in each category are below.

Think about your plans for this mathematics class for the entire year. How much emphasis did you or will you give each of the following?

A. Numbers and operations
B. Measurement
C. Geometry
D. Data analysis, statistics, and probability (informal introduction of concepts)
E. Algebra and functions (informal introduction of concepts)

Grade 4

Grade 8

Percentage of Students

Average Scores

Fourth-graders whose teachers put a heavy (240) or moderate (241) emphasis on numbers and operations scored higher than those whose teachers put little or no emphasis (223) on this type of mathematics instruction.

Emphasis	Little or no emphasis	Moderate emphasis	Heavy emphasis
	Average score
Numbers and operations	223	241	240
Measurement	237	240	240
Geometry	235	240	240
Data analysis, statistics, and probability (informal introduction of concepts)	238	241	239
Algebra and functions (informal introduction of concepts)	237	241	239

NOTE: The NAEP Mathematics scale ranges from 0 to 500. Some apparent differences between estimates may not be statistically significant. See complete data for numbers and operations, measurement, geometry, data analysis, and algebra and functions.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2009 Mathematics Assessment.

Browse questionnaires for the NAEP assessments.