TIMSS Math Teacher Questionnaire - Grade 8

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DRAFT

Teacher Name:
Class Name:
Teacher ID:
Teacher Link #:
OMB # to go here

TIMSS 2011
Field Test Version

Teacher
Questionnaire
Mathematics
Grade 8
National Center for Education Statistics
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20006

Teacher Questionnaire
Your school has agreed to participate in TIMSS 2011

NCES is authorized to collect information from

(Trends in International Mathematics and Science

this questionnaire under the Education Sciences

Study), an educational research project sponsored

Reform Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-279, Section

by the International Association for the Evaluation

153). You do not have to provide the information

of Educational Achievement (IEA). TIMSS measures

requested. However, the information you provide

trends in student achievement in mathematics and

will help the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing

systems in more than 60 countries in order to help

system in the United States compares to that in other

improve teaching and learning worldwide.

countries. There are no penalties should you choose

This questionnaire is addressed to teachers of
eighth-grade students, and seeks information

not to participate in this study. Your answers may be
used only for statistical purposes and may not be

about teachers’ academic and professional
backgrounds, classroom resources, instructional

purpose (Public Law 107-279, Section 183 and Title V,

practices, and attitudes toward teaching. Since your

subtitle A of the E-Government Act of 2002 (P.L.

class has been selected as part of a nationwide

107-347)). Your responses will be combined with

sample, your responses are very important in helping

those from other participants to produce summary

to describe secondary education in the United States.

statistics and reports.

Some of the questions in the questionnaire refer

This survey is estimated to take an average of 30

to the “TIMSS class” or “this class”. This is the class that

minutes, including time for reviewing instructions,

is identified on the front of this booklet, and which

and completing and reviewing the collection of

will be tested as part of TIMSS in your school. If you

information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor,

teach some but not all of the students in the TIMSS

and a person is not required to respond to, a collec-

class, please think only of the students that you teach

tion of information unless it displays a currently valid

when answering these class-specific questions. It is

OMB control number. Send comments regarding this

important that you answer each question carefully

burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection

so that the information that you provide reflects your

of information, including suggestions for reducing

situation as accurately as possible.

this burden, to: Stephen Provasnik, National Center

Since TIMSS is an international study and all
countries are using the same questionnaire, you may
find that some of the questions seem unusual or are
not entirely relevant to you or schools in the United
States. Nevertheless, it is important that you do your

for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW, Room 9034, Washington, DC
20006-5650. Do not return the completed form to
this address.
Thank you.

best to answer all of the questions so comparisons can
be made across countries in the studies.
It is estimated that you will need approximately
30 minutes to complete this questionnaire. We
thank you for your cooperation and contribution.
When you have completed the questionnaire,
please place it in the accompanying envelope and
return it to the School Coordinator.

TIMSS 2011

AboutYou

1

5
By the end of this school year, how many years will
you have been teaching altogether?

During your college or university education,
what was your major or main area(s) of study?
Check one circle for each line.

_____________ years

Yes

Please round to the nearest whole number.

No

O
b) Education - Mathematics ------------------------ O
c) Science ------------------------------------------- O
d) Education - Science ------------------------------ O
e) Education - General ----------------------------- O
f) Other --------------------------------------------- O
a) Mathematics -------------------------------------

2
Are you female or male?
Check one circle only.

Female --- O
Male --- O

3

O
O
O
O
O
O

How old are you?
Check one circle only.

Under 25 --- O
25-29 --- O
30-39 --- O
40-49 --- O
50-59 --- O
60 or more --- O

4
What is the highest level of formal education you
have completed?
Check one circle only.

Did not complete high school -- O
Completed high school -- O
Completed a vocational/technical
certificate after high school -- O
Completed an Associate’s degree (AA)
in vocational/technical program -- O
Completed an Associate’s degree (AA)
or Bachelor’s degree -- O
Completed an academic Master’s degree,
postgraduate certificate program (e.g., teaching)
or first professional degree
(e.g., law, medicine, dentistry) -- O
DRAFT

Completed a doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D) -- O

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

2

About Your School

7

6

Thinking about your current school, indicate the
extent to which you agree or disagree with each of
the following statements.

How would you characterize each of the following
within your school?
Check one circle for each line.

Check one circle for each line.

Very high

Agree a lot

High

Agree a little

Medium

Disagree a little

Low

a) Teachers’ job
satisfaction --------------------

O O

O O

O

b) Teachers’ understanding
of the school’s curricular
goals ---------------------------

O O

O O

O

c) Teachers’ degree of
success in implementing
the school’s curriculum --------

O O

O O

a) This school is located in
a safe neighborhood ---------- O

O

d) Teachers’ expectations
for student
achievement - ------------------

O O

O O

O

e) Parental support for
student achievement ----------

O O

O O

O

f) Parental involvement
in school activities -------------

O O

O O

O

g) Students’ regard for
school property ----------------

O O

O O

O

O O

O O

O

h) Students’ desire to do
well in school ------------------

Disagree
a lot

Very
low

O
b) I feel safe at this school -------- O O

O O
O O

c) This school’s security policies
and practices ar
nt ---- O

O

O O

d) The students behave in an
orderly manner ---------------- O

O

O O

e) The students are respectful
of the teachers ----------------- O

O

O O

8
In your current school, how severe is each problem?
Check one circle for each line.
Not a problem
Minor problem
Moderate problem
Serious
problem

3

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

a) The school building needs
significant repair -------------- O

O

O O

b) Classrooms are overcrowded -- O

O

O O

c) Teachers have too many
teaching hours ----------------- O

O

O O

d) Teachers do not have
adequate workspace for
preparation, collaboration,
or meeting with students ----- O

O

O O

e) Teachers do not have
adequate instructional
materials and supplies -------- O

O

O O

DRAFT

About Being a Teacher

9

10
How much do you agree with the following
statements about using computers in your
teaching?

How often do you have the following types of
interactions with other teachers?
Check one circle for each line.

Check one circle for each line.

Never or almost never

Agree a lot

2 or 3 times per month

Agree a little

1-3 times
per week

Disagree a little

Daily or
almost
daily

Disagree
a lot

a) I feel comfortable using
computers in my teaching ---- O
b) When I have technical
problems, I have ready
access to computer
suppor
my school ----- O
c) I receive adequate
support for integrating
computers in my
teaching activities ------------- O

DRAFT

O
O
O

O O
O O
O O

a) Discuss how to teach
a particular topic -------------- O

O

O O

b) Collaborate in planning
and preparing instructional
materials ----------------------- O

O

O O

c) Share what I have
learned about my
teaching experiences ---------- O

O

O O

d) Visit another classroom
to learn more about teaching - O

O

O O

e) Work together to
try out new ideas -------------- O

O

O O

Grade8 Teacher

Questionnaire

4

About Teaching the
TIMSS Class

11

12
How much do you agree with the following
statements?

How many students are in this class?
_____________ students

Check one circle for each line.

Write in a number.

Agree a lot
Agree a little
Disagree a little
Disagree
a lot

a) I am content with my profession
as a teacher -------------------- O

O

O O

b) I am satisfied with being a
teacher at this school ---------- O

O

O O

c) I had more enthusiasm when
I began teaching than I
have now ---------------------- O

O

O O

d) I do important work as
a teacher ----------------------- O

O

O O

O
f) I am frustrated as a teacher --- O O

O O
O O

e) I plan to continue as a
teacher for as long as I can ---- O

13
How many students experienc
understanding spoken English?
_____________ eighth-grade students in this class
Write in a number.

14
How often do you do the following in teaching this
class?
Check one circle for each line.
Every or almost every lesson
About half the lessons
Some lessons
Never

5

Grade8 Teacher Questionnaire

a) Summarize what students
should have learned from
the lesson --------------------- O

O

O O

b) Relate the lesson to
current events ----------------- O

O

O O

c) Use questioning to elicit
reasons and explanations ----- O

O

O O

d) Encourage all students to
improve their performance --- O

O

O O

e) Praise students for
rt -------------------- O

O

O O

f) Bring interesting materials
to class ------------------------- O

O

O O

DRAFT

16

15
In your view, to what extent do the following limit
how you teach this class?

For the typical student in this class, how often do
you do these things?
Check one circle for each line.

Check one circle for each line.

At least once a week

Not applicable

Once or twice a month

Not at all

4-6 times a year

Some

1-3 times
a year

A lot

a) Students lacking
prerequisite knowledge
or skills -------------------------

O O

O O

b) Studen
rom
lack of basic nutrition ---------

O O

O O

c) Studen
rom
not enough sleep --------------

O O

O O

O O
e) Disruptive students ------------ O O
f) Uninterested students --------- O O

O O
O O
O O

d) Students with special needs
(e.g., physical disabilities,
mental or emotional/
psychological impairment) ----

Never

a) Meet or talk individually
with the student’s parents
to discuss his/her
learning progress -------------- O

O

O O

O

b) Send home a progress
report on the student’s
learning ----------------------- O

O

O O

O

O

DRAFT

Grade8 Teacher Questionnaire

6

Teaching Mathematics to the
TIMSS Class

Questions 17-19 ask about mathematics
instruction for the eighth-grade students in
the TIMSS class.

19
In teaching mathematics to this class, how often do
you usually ask students to do the following?
Check one circle for each line.
Every or almost every lesson
About half the lessons

17

Some lessons

In a typical week, how much time do you spend
teaching mathematics to the students in this class?
___________hours and ___________minutes per week
Write in the hours and minutes.

18
In teaching mathematics to this class, how confident
do you feel to do the following?
Check one circle for each line.
Very confident
Somewhat confident
Not confident

7

a) Answer students’ questions
about mathematics ------------ O

O

O

b) Show students a variety of
problem solving strategies ---- O

O

O

c) Provide challenging tasks
for capable students ----------- O

O

O

d) Adapt my teaching to
engage students’ interest ----- O

O

O

e) Help students appreciate
the value of learning
mathematics ------------------- O

O

O

Grade8 Teacher Questionnaire

Never

a) Listen to me explain how to
solve problems ----------------

O O

O O

b) Memorize rules, procedures,
and facts -----------------------

O O

O O

c) Work problems (individually
or with peers) with my
guidance -----------------------

O O

O O

d) Work problems together in
the whole class with direct
guidance from me -------------

O O

O O

e) Work problems (individually
or with peers) while I am
occupied by other tasks -------

O O

O O

O O
g) Explain their answers ---------- O O

O O
O O

h) Relate what they are
learning in mathematics
to their daily life ---------------

O O

O O

i) Decide on their own
procedures for solving
complex problems -------------

O O

O O

O O
k) Take a written test or quiz ----- O O

O O
O O

f) Apply facts, concepts, and
procedures to solve routine
problems -----------------------

j) Work on problems for
which there is no
immediately obvious
method of solution ------------

DRAFT

Resources for Teaching
Mathematics

Questions 20-22 ask about resources for
teaching mathematics to the eighth-grade
students in the TIMSS class.

21
A. Are the students in this class permitted to use
calculators during mathematics lessons?
Check one circle only.

Yes, with unrestricted use --- O
Yes, with restricted use --- O

20
When you teach mathematics to this class, how
often do you use the following resources?
Check one circle for each line.
Basis for instruction
Supplement
Not used

a) Textbooks ----------------------

O O

b) Workbooks or
worksheets -------------------- O

(If No, go to #22)

B. How often do students in this class use calculators
in their mathematics lessons for the following
activities?
Check one circle for each line.

O

Every or almost every lesson
About half the lessons

O

O

c) Concrete objects or
materials that help
students understand
quantities or procedures ------- O

O

O

d) Computer software for
mathematics instruction
(e.g., CD, DVD, Internet) ------- O

O

O

DRAFT

No, calculators are not permitted - O

Some lessons
Never

a) Check answers ----------------- O

O
b) Do routine computations ------ O O
c) Solve complex problems ------ O O
d) Explore number concepts ------ O O

Grade8 Teacher Questionnaire

O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O

8

22
A. Do the students in this class have computer(s)
available to use during their mathematics lessons?
Check one circle only.

O
No--- O

Yes---

(If No, go to #23)

B. Do any of the computer(s) have access to the
Internet?
Check one circle only.

O
No--- O

Yes---

C. How often do you have the students do the
following computer activities?
Check one circle for each line.
Every or almost every day
Once or twice a week
Once or twice a
month
Never or
almost
never

9

a) Look up ideas and
information -------------------- O

O

O O

b) Use instructional software
to develop and practice
skills and procedures ---------- O

O

O O

c) Explore mathematics
principles and concepts ------- O

O

O O

d) Use the school website for
homework assignments ------- O

O

O O

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

DRAFT

Mathematics Topics Taught
Questions 23-24 ask about the topics taught and the content covered in teaching mathematics
to the eighth-grade students in the TIMSS class.

23
The following list includes the main topics addressed by the TIMSS mathematics test. Choose the response that
best describes when the students in this class have been taught each topic. If a topic was taught half this year but
not yet completed, please choose “Mostly taught this year.” If a topic is not in the curriculum, please choose “Not
yet taught or just introduced.”
Check one circle for each line.
Mostly taught before this year
Mostly taught this year
Not yet taught or
just introduced

A. Number
a) Computing, estimating, or approximating with whole numbers -----------------------------------------------------------

O
b) Concepts of fractions and computing with fractions ------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
c) Concepts of decimals and computing with decimals ------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
d) Representing, comparing, ordering, and computing with integers --------------------------------------------------------- O
e) Problem solving involving percents and proportions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

f) Translation, reflection, and rotation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O

O
O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O
O

D. Data and Chance
a) Reading and displaying data using tables, pictographs, bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs -------------------------- O

O O

B. Algebra
a) Numeric, algebraic, and geometric patterns or sequences (extension, missing terms, generalization of patterns) ------- O

b) Simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- O
c) Simple linear equations and inequalities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
d) Simultaneous (two variables) equations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
e) Representation of functions as ordered pairs, tables, graphs, words, or equations ---------------------------------------- O
C. Geometry
a) Geometric properties of angles and geometric shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, and other common polygons) --------- O

b) Congruent figures and similar triangles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O
c) Relationship between three–dimensional shapes and their two-dimensional representations -------------------------- O
d) Using appropriate measurement formulas for perimeters, circumferences, areas, surface areas, and volumes ----------- O
e) Points on the Cartesian plane ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O

b) Interpreting data sets (e.g., draw conclusions, make predictions, and estimate values between and
beyond given data points) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O

O O
c) Judging, predicting, and determining the chances of possible outcomes -------------------------------------------------- O O O

DRAFT

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

10

Mathematics Content Coverage

24
By the end of this school year, approximately what
percentage of teaching time will you have spent
during this school year on each of the following
mathematics content areas for the students in this
class?
Write in the percentage for each.

a) Number (e.g., whole numbers,
fractions, decimals, ratio, proportion
and percent)--------------------------------------------- _____%
b) Algebra (e.g., patterns, equations,
formulas and relationships) ---------------------------- _____%
c) Geometry (e.g., lines and angles,
shapes, congruence and
similarity, spatial relationships,
symmetry and transformations) ----------------------- _____%
d) Data and chance (e.g., reading,
organizing and representing data,
data interpretation and chance) ------------------------ _____%
e) Other, please specify:
___________________________ ---------- _____%
Total = 100%

11

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

DRAFT

Mathematics Homework

Question 25 asks about mathematics homework
for the eighth-grade students in the TIMSS
class.

C. How often do you do the following with the
mathematics homework assignments for this
class?
Check one circle for each line.
Always or almost always
Sometimes
Never or
almost never

25
A. How often do you usually assign mathematics
homework to the students in this class?
Check one circle only.

I do not assign mathematics
homework --- O

(Go to #26)

Less than once a week --- O
1 or 2 times a week --- O
3 or 4 times a week --- O
Every day --- O

a) Correct assignments and
give feedback to students ----- O

O

O

b) Have students correct
their own homework ---------- O

O

O

c) Discuss the homework
in class ------------------------- O

O

O

d) Monitor whether or not the
homework was completed ---- O

O

O

e) Use the homework to
contribute towards
students’ grades or marks ----- O

O

O

B. When you assign mathematics homework to the
students in this class, about how many minutes
do you usually assign? (Consider the time it would
take an average student in your class.)
Check one circle only.

15 minutes or less --- O
16-30 minutes --- O
31-60 minutes --- O
61-90 minutes --- O
More than 90 minutes --- O

DRAFT

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

12

Mathematics Assessment

Questions 26-28 ask about mathematics
assessment for the eighth-grade students in
the TIMSS class.

28
How often do you include the following types
of questions in your mathematics tests or
examinations? Do not include quizzes.
Check one circle for each line.
Always or almost always

26

Sometimes

How much emphasis do you place on the
following sources to monitor students’ progress in
mathematics?

a) Questions based on recall
of facts and procedures -------- O

O

O

b) Questions involving
application of mathematical
procedures --------------------- O

O

O

O

c) Questions involving
searching for patterns
and relationships -------------- O

O

O

d) Questions requiring
explanations or
justifications ------------------- O

O

O

Check one circle for each line.
Major emphasis
Some emphasis
Little or no
emphasis

a) Evaluation of students’
ongoing work ------------------ O

O

Never or
almost never

b) Classroom tests (for
example, teacher made or
textbook tests) ---------------- O

O

O

c) State or district
achievement tests ------------- O

O

O

27
How often do you give a mathematics test or
examination to this class? (Do not include
quizzes.)
Check one circle only.

About once a week --- O
About every two weeks --- O
About once a month --- O
A few times a year --- O
Never --- O

13

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

DRAFT

Preparation to Teach
Mathematics

29
In the past two years, have you participated
in professional development in any of the
following?
Check one circle for each line.
Yes
No

O O
b) Mathematics pedagogy/instruction ------------ O O
c) Mathematics curriculum ------------------------ O O
a) Mathematics content ----------------------------

d) Integrating information technology
into mathematics --------------------------------

O O

e) Improving students’ critical thinking or
problem solving skills ---------------------------

O O
f) Mathematics assessment ----------------------- O O
g) Addressing individual students’ needs ---------- O O

DRAFT

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

14

30
How well prepared do you feel you are to teach the following mathematics topics?
If a topic is not in the curriculum or you are not responsible for teaching this topic you may check “not applicable.”
Check one circle for each line.
Not applicable
Very well prepared
Somewhat
prepared
Not well
prepared

A. Number

a) Computing, estimating, or approximating with whole numbers ----------------------------------------------------------- O
b) Concepts of fractions and computing with fractions ------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
c) Concepts of decimals and computing with decimals ------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
d) Representing, comparing, ordering, and computing with integers --------------------------------------------------------- O
e) Problem solving involving percents and proportions ----------------------------------------------------------------------- O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O

B. Algebra

a) Numeric, algebraic, and geometric patterns or sequences (extension, missing terms, generalization
of patterns) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O
b) Simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- O
c) Simple linear equations and inequalities ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
d) Simultaneous (two variables) equations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O
e) Representation of functions as ordered pairs, tables, graphs, words, or equations ---------------------------------------- O
C. Geometry

a) Geometric properties of angles and geometric shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, and other
common polygons) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

O O O O
b) Congruent figures and similar triangles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O O O O
c) Relationship between three–dimensional shapes and their two-dimensional representations -------------------------- O O O O
d) Using appropriate measurement formulas for perimeters, circumferences, areas, surface areas,
and volumes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

O O O O
e) Points on the Cartesian plane ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ O O O O
f ) Translation, reflection, and rotation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O O O O
D. Data and Chance

a) Reading and displaying data using tables, pictographs, bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs -------------------------- O

O O O

b) Interpreting data sets (e.g., draw conclusions, make predictions, and estimate values between and
beyond given data points) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O

O O O
c) Judging, predicting, and determining the chances of possible outcomes -------------------------------------------------- O O O O
15

Grade 8 Teacher Questionnaire

DRAFT

[The following questions are national options that will
be added to the questionnaire. They will be formatted
and appropriately placed among the existing items.]

1. Mathematics course currently being taught
What mathematics course are you teaching to the
TIMSS class?
Fill in one circle only.
Basic or general eighth-grade math
(not algebra or pre-algebra)--------------------------------- O
Introduction to algebra or pre-algebra ------------------ O
Two-year pre-algebra ----------------------------------------- O
Algebra I (one-year course) ---------------------------------- O
Algebra I (first year of a two-year Algebra I course) -----O
Algebra I (second year of two-year Algebra I course) ---O
Geometry -------------------------------------------------------- O
Algebra II --------------------------------------------------------- O
Integrated or sequential math ------------------------------ O
Other math class ----------------------------------------------- O

Thank You
Thank you for the thought, time, and effort you have
put into completing this questionnaire.

TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center
Lynch School of Education, Boston College
timssandpirls.bc.edu

DRAFT

TIMSS 2011
Field Test Version

Teacher
Questionnaire
Mathematics
Grade 8

©2010
International Association
for the Evaluation of
Educational Achievement