Effective differentiation Practices:A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the cognitive effects of differentiation practices in primary education

This systematic review gives an overview of the effects of differentiation practices on language and math performance in primary education, synthesizing the results of empirical studies (n = 21) on this topic since 1995. We extracted 78 effect sizes from the included studies. We found that using computerized systems as a differentiation tool and using differentiation as part of a broader program or reform had small to moderate positive effects on students’ performance. Between- or within-class homogeneous ability grouping had a small negative effect on low-ability students, but no effect on others. The finding that computer technology can be a useful tool to facilitate differentiated instruction is not covered in earlier reviews. Moreover, our findings emphasize that homogeneous ability grouping alone is not enough to guarantee differentiated instruction. This stresses the importance of embedding differentiation practices in a broader educational context

Data_Sheet_1_Using lesson study to help mathematics teachers enhance students’ problem-solving skills with teaching through problem solving.pdf

As a central objective, problem-solving skills are important in the mathematics curricula of many countries. However, such skills tend to receive limited and rarely systematic attention in mathematics lessons, including in the Netherlands. To address this gap, the authors adopt a specific approach that defines problem solving as integral to mathematics: Teaching mathematics Through Problem solving (TTP). In Japan, teachers often learn about TTP by performing Lesson Study (LS), an approach in which teachers work in teams to design and conduct a research lesson that allows them to learn collectively about students’ learning processes. TTP offers a promising, structured, didactical approach to introducing problem solving in mathematics lessons, and LS appears to represent an effective means for teachers to learn about TTP. To test this proposition, the current study entails a TTP- and LS-based intervention implemented in two secondary schools in the Netherlands, with an explicit focus on problem-solving skills. The central research objective for this study is to determine whether this TTP-LS-intervention helps mathematics teachers incorporate problem-solving skills into their lessons and how design characteristics and mechanisms of the intervention affect the outcomes. Interviews with teachers provide insights into which characteristics of the TTP-LS intervention fostered the implementation of problem solving in their teaching practice, as well as which did not. The collected data show that the teachers regard TTP as a valuable pedagogy to teaching mathematical problem solving. They report that the joint development, implementation, and evaluation of TTP lessons in the LS cycles, and especially observations of students, has given them more tools for applying TTP pedagogy and that they use these tools to promote problem-solving skills. Elements of the TTP lessons that the teachers perceived as difficult were the lesson phases that featured discussions on solution strategies rather than finding the “right” answers. Teachers regarded LS as a suitable approach for learning about TTP. Some points for improvement also emerged from the data. For example, more support should be given to TTP-LS-teams to explain the problem-solving skills they want to target in their lessons, and to practice especially the classroom discussion and summary phase.</p

Breast cancer and cardiovascular outcomes after breast cancer in survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors treated with chest radiotherapy have an increased risk of breast cancer (BC). Prior HL treatment and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk may limit BC treatment options. It is unknown how treatment adaptations affect BC and CVD outcomes. Methods: The authors compared 195 BC patients treated with chest/axillary radiotherapy for HL (BC-HL) with 5988 age- and calendar year-matched patients with first primary BC (BC-1). Analyses included cumulative incidence functions and Cox regression models, accounting for tumor characteristics and BC treatment. Results: Compared to BC-1 patients, BC-HL patients received anthracycline-containing chemotherapy (23.7% vs. 43.8%, p <.001) and breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy (7.1% vs. 57.7%, p <.001) less often. BC treatment considerations were reported for 71% of BC-HL patients. BC-HL patients had a significantly higher risk of 15-year overall mortality than BC-1 patients (61% vs. 23%). Furthermore, risks of BC-specific mortality and nonfatal BC events were significantly increased among BC-HL patients, also when accounting for tumor and treatment characteristics (2.2- to 4.5-fold). BC-HL patients with a screen-detected BC had a significantly reduced (61%) BC-specific mortality. One-third of BC-HL patients had CVD at BC-diagnosis, compared to <0.1% of BC-1 patients. Fifteen-year CVD-specific mortality and CVD incidence were significantly higher in BC-HL patients than in BC-1 patients (15.2% vs. 0.4% and 40.4% vs. 6.8%, respectively), which was due to HL treatment rather than BC treatment. Conclusions: BC-HL patients experience a higher burden of CVD and worse BC outcomes than BC-1 patients. Clinicians should be aware of increased CVD risk when selecting BC treatment for HL survivors. Lay summary: Patients with breast cancer after Hodgkin lymphoma (BC-HL) may have limited options for BC treatment, due to earlier HL treatment and an associated increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). BC treatment considerations were reported for 71% of BC-HL patients. We examined whether BC-HL patients have a higher risk of CVD or BC events (recurrences/metastases) compared to patients with breast cancer that had no earlier tumors (BC-1). We observed a higher burden of CVD and worse BC outcomes in HL patients compared to BC-1 patients. Clinicians should be aware of increased CVD risk when selecting BC treatment for HL survivors