Transformation of Japanese Elementary Mathematics Textbooks: 1958–2012

Abstract

Quality of teaching is a major factor in students' mathematics learning. Stigler and Hiebert (1999) showed that mathematics teaching in Japanese schools is significantly different from what is typically observed in US classrooms. However, Japanese mathematics educators claim that Japanese mathematics teaching has transformed significantly over the last 50 years. Although teaching is influenced by a variety of factors, textbooks play a significant role in what mathematics is taught and how it is taught. In other words, textbooks may significantly influence students' opportunities to learn. Thus, six editions of a Japanese elementary school mathematics series since 1958 were analyzed to identify any change that might indicate the transformation of mathematics instruction in Japan. The analysis revealed that the features included in the series have changed over the years to support more explicitly the problem-solving-based mathematics instruction described by Stigler and Hiebert (1999).