Evidence of Effectiveness:

Independent evaluators at Research Communications Limited (RCL) conducted research with users of the Math Thematics field test materials and found that students' attitudes towards mathematics increased, as well as their performance.

Results show that:

• Students who were taught with Math Thematics in both sixth and seventh grades had significantly higher gains than did control group students relative to future study of math, and interest in persuing mathematics-based careers.
  
  

At the end of the academic year, a criterion referenced test based on the NCTM standards was administered to Math Thematics (STEM) students and non-Math Thematics students (a control group).

Significant differences in performance between Math Thematics students and students in the control group were found on measure of mean score and/or percent reaching master levels on 25 of the 40 established objectives. Math Thematics students outperformed students in the control group on 80% of these objectives.

Overall, Math Thematics students performed significantly better than did non-Math Thematics students in the following areas: order of operations and problem solving, statistical concepts and applications, fractions, decimals, percents, and probability.