The content of U.S. mathematics classes requires less high-level thought than classes in Germany and Japan. U.S. mathematics teachers' typical goal is to teach students how to do something, while Japanese teachers' goal is to help them understand mathematical concepts. Japanese teachers widely practice what the U.S. mathematics reform recommends, while U.S. teachers do so less frequently. Although most U.S. math teachers report familiarity with reform recommendations, only a few apply the key points in their classrooms. Unlike new U.S. teachers, new Japanese and German teachers receive long-term structured apprenticeships in their profession.
Japanese teachers have more opportunities to discuss teaching-related issues than do U.S. teachers.
Student diversity and poor discipline are challenges not only for U.S. teachers, but for their German colleagues as well. In Japan, no ability grouping is practiced. In Germany and Japan, all students study the same material, although in Germany, lower-level classes study it less deeply and rigorously. U.S. teachers assign more homework and spend more class time discussing it than teachers in Germany and Japan. Heavy TV watching is as common among U.S. eighth graders as it is among their Japanese counterparts.