Special Topics Colleagues,

Today we begin a discussion about the Components of Numeracy  study.   
I would like to welcome our guest authors: Mary Jane Schmitt, Lynda  
Ginsburg and Myrna Manley. I will post some questions now and will  
follow up with other questions later. I encourage you to submit your  
questions and comments, too. As our discussion will end this Friday,  
however, please don't wait too long to post your question(s). If you  
haven't yet, please take a look at the study and accompanying  
documents. (See below.)

Here are my questions to our guests about the study:

1. Can you describe (or point subscribers to descriptions in the  
readings that describe) the three major components and also give  
examples of how they interact?

Context — the use and purpose for which an adult takes on a task with  
mathematical demands

Content — the mathematical knowledge that is necessary for the tasks  
confronted

Cognitive and Affective — the processes that enable an individual to  
solve problems, and thereby, link the content and context

2. Where does mathematical fluency fit into the components, that is,  
learners becoming comfortable, quick, and enthusiastic about engaging  
with numeracy to solve problems?

3. In the United States now, what is driving how math is taught and  
learned? Is it student-defined contexts, as they present them to  
their teachers? Is it curriculum frameworks? Or is it the  
standardized tests called for by the NRS? Is it all the above? Can  
you give us an overview of where – in the country – each of these  
“drivers” now has some sway?


For more information, including links to the readings, please go to:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/specialtopics/07numeracy.html

or the short Web address:

http://tinyurl.com/yvo6hf

Your colleagues who may wish to join this discussion can subscribe by
going to

http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics

After you complete the simple registration form (30 seconds) you will
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Immediately reply to the email to complete your subscription. After
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stay on for the next discussion.

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
djrosen at comcast.net



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