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

More than 90 percent of fourth-graders had teachers who placed a heavy emphasis on teaching numbers and operations.

Emphasis	Little or no emphasis	Moderate emphasis	Heavy emphasis
	Percentage of students
Numbers and operations	#	8	91
Measurement	5	60	35
Geometry	3	60	36
Data analysis, statistics, and probability (informal introduction of concepts)	8	61	31
Algebra and functions (informal introduction of concepts)	7	51	42

# Rounds to zero.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. 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.