Empowering and Facilitating Student Learning: An Investigation of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy for High-school Mathematics Instruction

Implementing culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) in a mathematics classroom is often recommended by researchers as a strategy for improving mathematical achievement among underrepresented students. This study explores the effect of CRP on the mathematical achievement of underrepresented students by: 1) conducting a meta- synthesis in order to determine the effects that have been found in prior culturally relevant mathematics studies; 2) contributing to the literature on the effect by engaging high school students in a 10-day culturally relevant mathematics intervention and measuring their mathematical achievement by a pre- and post- assessment; and 3) determining students’ perspectives of culturally relevant mathematics instruction by interviewing five students that participated in the culturally relevant intervention. The results of investigating CRP revealed that it has positive impacts for all students participating. Not only did CRP improve mathematics achievement among all students, but CRP also increased students’: 1) engagement in the learning process; 2) life-skills; 3) habits of learning; 4) general knowledge; 5) community advocacy; 6) attitudes; 7) and interests in mathematics. Also, the students in the study had positive perspectives of CRP and preferred CRP over traditional mathematics instruction. Broader impacts of the results from this study are also provided

The End or Beginning? Either Way, the Credits Are Not Rolling Yet!

(First paragraph) Thank you to all our reviewers, editorial board members, authors, and those who chose the Journal of Urban Mathematics Education (JUME) as their outlet of choice this past year. JUME has had many recent successes, and we in the editorial team plan to release the salient performance data for the journal. For JUME to advance its mission, we believe that accountability and transparency are essential. To this end, our readers will from now on receive an annual progress report about JUME in our first issue of each year

Reflecting Back to Forge the Path Forward

The JUME editorial team provides an update of the journal\u27s health and progress during the 2021 calendar year and discusses coming changes and opportunities for growth