How can teachers learn what they need to know? Every community of educators, regardless of field or specialization, can benefit from being well informed about current research findings. A considerable amount of mathematics education research exists to inform teachers and administrators about teaching and learning mathematics. Research can show what is possible and what looks promising. It can demonstrate what is possible for students--what they can learn under specific kinds of conditions. Research can show that students can reach certain goals and that some kinds of instruction are especially effective in helping them get there. Learn how to use current research to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics. The Teaching and Learning Mathematics series presents ideas from research to improve mathematics education in schools. Each book presents findings from research to enhance the quality of classroom mathematics teaching and learning. This book contains eleven stand-alone articles, each with a list of references, which put current research into the hands of teachers. Each article addresses key practitioner-generated questions with brief, direct answers, devoid of technical language and theory. It also includes a "How to Use this Book" section that provides specific suggestions for using the book in professional development workshops and for making policy decisions. Following the preface, these chapters are included: (1) Learning Whole-Number Operations in Elementary School Classrooms (Susan Jo Russell); (2) Helping Elementary School Students Become Successful Mathematical Problem Solvers (Jinfa Cai); (3) Learning Rational Number Concepts and Skills in Elementary School Classrooms (Kathleen Cramer, Stephanie Whitney); (4) Algebraic Reasoning in Elementary School Classrooms (David Carraher, Analucia Dias Schliemann); (5) Classroom Influences on Students' Outcomes in the Elementary Grades (Jennifer M. Bay-Williams); (6) Effective Classroom Practices of Elementary School Teachers (Jennifer M. Bay-Williams); (7) Elementary School Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs (Jennifer M. Bay-Williams, Karen Karp); (8) The Influence of Technology on Mathematics Learning in Elementary and Middle School Classrooms (Michael T. Battista); (9) The Role of Curricular Materials in Elementary School Mathematics Classrooms (Mary Kay Stein, Margaret S. Smith); (10) Language, Culture, and Equity in Elementary School Mathematics Classrooms (Judit N. Moschkovich); and (11) Formative Assessment in Elementary School Mathematics Classrooms (Marjorie M. Petit, Judith S. Zawojewski).