ABOUT WCER NEWS Events Cover Stories Research News International Research Press WHAT'S THE RESEARCH ON...? PROJECTS All Active Projects All Completed Projects PUBLICATIONS LECTURE SERIES PEOPLE Staff Directory Project Leaders ERG - EVALUATION RESOURCES GROUP RESOURCES Conference Rooms Equipment GRANT SERVICES GRADUATE TRAINING SERVICE UNITS Director's Office Business Office Technical Services Printing & Mail EMPLOYMENT CONTACT INFO MyWCER WORKSPACE LOGIN

Exploring the Impact of Early Algebra

October 19, 2009

Algebra plays a critical role as a gatekeeper in school mathematics and in society beyond school years. Eric Knuth and colleagues are focusing on the ways early algebra education affects students' mathematical achievement as they enter more formal mathematics in middle grades. Their team is (a) designing a curricular learning progression, (b) implementing early algebra innovations to develop early algebra classrooms through systemic, school-wide professional development; and (c) evaluating the effectiveness of early algebra innovations on students’ algebra learning as they progress through elementary and middle grades. This research follows cohorts of third grade students from two school districts through the completion of seventh grade. In each district, one cohort is composed of students in early algebra classrooms, while the second cohort is composed of students in more traditional, arithmetic classrooms.