Mathematics, Curriculum

Mathematics curriculum has been the center of continued debate in the public arena since the launch of Sputnik more than 50 years ago. There is ongoing controversy about what mathematics content should be included in the school curricula, as evidenced in the so-called Math Wars (in the United States) and similar differences of curricular opinion elsewhere. There are major differences in the mathematical abilities between the mathematically gifted and talented students and their age-mates, and these differences can be addressed both in the mixed ability and exclusive ability classroom via the use of appropriate programming techniques such as curriculum acceleration, compacting, and differentiating. In certain instances, radical acceleration offers the best intellectual opportunities for the profoundly gifted students. The curriculum at the secondary level is ...