Students often have the misconception that mathematics involves reading the problem, staring at the page, and then writing down an answer. With more than twenty years of experience working with students in eighth-grade math through college calculus, the author has been increasingly interested in how she can foster problem-solving skills in her…

Card tricks based on mathematical principles can be a great way to get students interested in exploring some important mathematical ideas. In this article, the author discusses a simple spreadsheet implementation that shows students why the card trick works and allows them to explore several variations. As an added bonus, students are introduced…

Presents selection criteria for teachers to use when reviewing video materials for classroom use. Provides an annotated bibliography. (ASK)

Discusses two concrete models that have been useful in helping students understand operations with percentages. Includes information on materials needed, procedures for students, limitations, and instructional strategies. (JN)

Contains tips from readers about using technology in the classroom, including notebook computers, classroom sets of calculators, geometry software, LOGO software, publisher discounts, curriculum materials in CD-ROM, and volunteer help in computers and computer networking for schools. (MKR)

Provided are four worksheets that are designed to capitalize on the use of calculators as teachers' partners in helping students to develop an intuitive feeling for percentage. Students also learn how to use the calculator's percent key to compute percentages. (MNS)

Activities concern exploring data and using the stem-and-leaf plot for displaying data. The three worksheets present activities, with brief directions for the teacher included. (MNS)

Three worksheets and teachers' notes for grades 8-12 are provided on symmetry. (MNS)

Activities that provide opportunities for students to investigate solving linear equations using both a physical and a pictorial model are given. Students should discover a method that will permit them to solve such equations at the symbolic level. (MNS)

Motivational classroom materials that provide direct instruction on problem-solving skills are given. The activity highlights and provides opportunities for practice with two problem-solving skills, make a drawing and work backward. (MNS)

The estimation strategies of "using compatible numbers,""averaging," and "rounding" are used. The first two worksheets review easy arithmetic facts and ask students to identify compatible numbers. Worksheet Three introduces averaging and provides practice with rounding, while the fourth worksheet contains problems for group practice. (MNS)

Using four activity sheets, students learn to identify fractions that are easy to use in estimation situations. (MNS)

Drawing accurate regular polygons with a specified edge length is the focus of three activities. Angle measurement and related geometric concepts are reinforced with three worksheets. (MNS)

The activity uses an area model to analyze probabilities associated with games of chance. Three activity sheets are included, with teaching suggestions. (MNS)

Stressed is a conceptual approach to absolute value, based on the visualization of the graphs of absolute-value equations. An important by-product is predicting a graph on the basis of certain constraints. Four worksheets plus teacher comments are included. (MNS)