Abstract
An underlying message of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (2000) is the necessity to build students’ confidence and motivation in mathematics. Aligned with other international mathematics reform literature (e.g., Australian Education Council 1990), Principles and Standards advocates teaching practices presumed to enhance motivation and engagement because they not only are considered de- sirable outcomes by themselves but also are a means to enhance student achieve- ment. A substantial body of research now confirms that many teaching strategies designed to increase student motivation at school, particularly in mathematics, also improve learning outcomes (Stipek et al. 1998). These findings are especial- ly relevant for teachers of students in the middle grades. The middle grades coin- cide with a notable decline in students’ engagement levels with school and with mathematics in particular (Martin 2007, 2008). It is also a time when progression of learning is prone to lose its momentum compared with that in elementary school (Hill, Holmes-Smith, and Rowe 1993).
Discover the world's research