Responses to area and preimeter questions asked of 9-, 13-, 17-year-olds and young adults in the National Assessment are summarized. Recommendations for instruction aimed at improving these results are described. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Results of National Assessment problems on area are used to highlight the difficulties elementary students have with area and volume concepts. Recommendations for instruction include the provision for substantial practice with coverings before the introduction of computational short-cuts. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in…

Research on effective teaching is described. Comparisons of expert and novice teachers reveal a profile of expertise in elementary mathematics instruction. How lessons are planned and presented is discussed. (MNS)

Research indicates that calculators can promote mathematics achievement. Some topics with which calculators can aid are briefly discussed: problem solving, number ideas, counting, basic facts, and computation with whole numbers and decimals. (MNS)

Research on the use of review is briefly summarized. Some guidelines for planning review work are listed, and five types of effective review are noted: outlines, questions, varied grouping, varied content, and games. (MNS)

Research on minority groups in mathematics (particularly Blacks and Hispanics) is briefly summarized. How researchers attempt to explain achievement and enrollment differences is noted. (MNS)

Research on the effectiveness of microcomputer software for drill and practice is briefly summarized, as well as research on other ways of using microcomputers. (MNS)

The performance of 13 and 17-year-olds on National Assessment items involving computation with fractions is reviewed, together with findings from related research. Recommendations for improving instruction are offered. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Results of the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) related to subtraction are summarized and interpreted. Implications for instruction are discussed. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Performance of 9-year-olds, 17-year-olds, and young adults on questions related to numerical estimation is reported. Implications for instruction are discussed. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results (Interpretation).

Performance on several word problems used in the National Assessment of Educational Progress is discussed. Errors are analyzed for different age groups, and the overall findings are compared with results of related research. Implications for instruction are derived. (SD) Aspect of National Assessment (NAEP) dealt with in this document: Results…

A meta-analysis of 79 research reports on the effects of calculator use on students' achievement and attitude in grades K-12 was conducted. At all but one grade level, students using calculators maintained or improved their paper-and-pencil skills. Suggestions for the classroom are included. (MNS)

Research on the attitudes of elementary school pupils toward mathematics is briefly summarized. Included are the points that most elementary school children like mathematics and that few differences are found between the attitudes of boys and girls. Some suggestions on what teachers can do to improve attitudes are given. (MNS)

The roles of both positive and negative instances in concept formation are discussed. Based on research results, the article stresses ideas that the classroom teacher could try in order to aid concept learning. Several specific examples, based on the concept of commutivity, are given. (LS)

Some research focuses on how children develop the ability to estimate computations. The theory and a research study are briefly described, followed by discussion of the study's implications and extensions into the classroom. (MNS)