Studying the Effects of Korean Mathematics on American Teachers in Mid-America

Asian mathematics curricula and textbooks are being recognized in the United States as at least partial explanation for the higher mathematics achievement of students in Asian countries compared to students in the United States. As a result there is considerable interest among many educators in the United States in curricula from Singapore and curricula from Japan. In addition, researchers and educators at one university in the American heartland have been using the English translations of a Korean primary mathematics curriculum for professional development and assessment with groups of Missouri teachers for the purpose of enhancing teachers' understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics, and in hopes of raising student achievement scores. A professional development initiative begun seven years ago and revived this year will entail a rigorous assessment which will be reported in 2009. Results of assessment of the earlier initiatives are reported here.