Describes the rationale for and the methods used in four case studies of mathematics teaching in California which are discussed in subsequent articles. The case studies were designed to elicit relationships between teachers' knowledge of mathematics and beliefs about the nature of mathematics teaching and learning and their mathematics…

Eleven students (ages 9-14) enrolled in self-contained special education classrooms received math instruction via the Interactive Unit. The Interactive Unit is an instructional system involving 16 combinations of teacher-pupil-material interactions, calling for various teacher inputs and student outputs. Significant differences were detected…

Outlines steps necessary for students to learn how to use one another as resources for doing mathematics, including preparation for group work, fine tuning communication and cooperation skills, and developing helping skills. Includes a "good helper" and "good help receiver" checklist. (Contains 14 references.) (MKR)

Presents suggestions for teaching elementary students about shapes and similarities. Primary students can read an illustrated story that encourages observation and discussion of shapes. Intermediate students can cut shapes out of magazines and describe their similarities. Another activity teaches students that geometrically similar figures,…

The study examined methods of mathematical problem solving with 34 gifted and 34 average Dutch 10 year olds. Typical questioning protocols are diagrammed and results tabulated. Preliminary findings suggest the potential value of explicit teaching of advanced mathematical problem-solving skills to pupils of average ability. (DB)

Describes the experiences of a teacher using a mathematics curriculum called Six Through Eight Mathematics (STEM). Discusses how experiencing this curriculum helped shape views of mathematics and teacher role. (ASK)

Presents a mathematical investigation focusing on measurement, data collection, and decision making in the context of mining for grades four and five. Encourages students to make their own decisions about collecting data and the methods most appropriately used for analysis. (ASK)

Describes the use of a variety of strategies to teach estimation and other mathematics concepts in an inclusive urban fifth-grade classroom. The collaborative program (involving the teacher, the mathematics consultant, and the special-education consultant) utilized cooperative learning, estimation techniques, calculators, graphic organizers, links…

Presents a modified version of the Wheel of Fortune game for mathematics classrooms that engages students in solving equations by using formal and informal methods. Encourages mental computation and estimation. (ASK)

Describes a year-long project for upper elementary-middle school students that incorporates mathematics, language skills, problem solving, and economics in a classroom business. Outlines the 13-step process that the author's students followed in planning and running a classroom candy store. (SR)

Presents an activity involving students in the creation of polyhedra which enables them to understand the characteristics and develop a clear definition of different polyhedra for themselves. This activity helps develop spatial ability by encouraging students to experiment with creating models of polyhedra while using a wide variety of polygons…

Presents an activity on probability and area in which students try to decide which door to buy. (ASK)

Describes several activities and games that provide an introduction to the concept of function. Suggests that experiences should depend more on students' experiences and understanding and less on the memorization of unmotivated conventions with abstract symbols. Includes activities for a calculator as a function machine, composite functions, and…

Describes an activity for making the connection between triangle ratios and graphs of circular functions which helps middle school students understand the concept of a sine curve. (ASK)

Investigates the effects of group personalization of instruction on the mathematics achievement and attitudes of 72 fifth-grade Taiwanese students. Personalization was accomplished by incorporating personal information and preferences provided by students into their mathematics word problems. Students were blocked by ability level, then randomly…