What is the point? Examining how curriculum materials articulate mathematical goals and how teachers steer instruction. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Remillard, Janine T.; Reinke, Luke T.; Kapoor, Radhika
• Is Part Of: International journal of educational research. Volume 93(2019)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Written curriculum -- Enacted curriculum -- Mathematics teaching -- Elementary teaching; Education -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Curriculum evaluation -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; Program Evaluation -- Periodicals; Éducation -- Évaluation -- Périodiques; Programmes d'études -- Evaluation -- Périodiques; Éducation -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Curriculum evaluation; Education -- Evaluation; Periodicals; 370.72
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2018.09.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0355

Abstract

Highlights: Examined how four elementary mathematics curricula articulate mathematical goals. Examined extent to which teachers steered instruction toward the goals. Most lesson guides typically included 4–5 goals; only provided support for 2–3. Teachers generally steered toward 2–3 goals per lesson. Teachers steered more heavily toward goals that received more support in guides. Abstract: This study examined how authors of four different elementary mathematics curriculum materials articulate the mathematical goals of the lesson and orient the activities toward the goals, as well as the extent to which teachers steered instruction toward the goals during enactment. Through document analysis, we identified four ways in which authors support teachers in identifying and orienting the lesson toward the goals. Analysis of the enacted lessons of 8 teachers suggests a correlation between the depth to which the goals were communicated across the four categories and the extent to which teachers steered the instruction towards the goals. The authors conclude with recommendations to curriculum developers for communicating mathematical goals in ergonomic ways.