Small group instruction was assessed in a naturalistic study involving 206 observations of mathematics periods in 33 classrooms of grades 4, 5, and 6 in 21 schools. Six types of group instruction were identified, and teachers' use of such groups was explored. (SLD)

This analysis indicated that from variables theorized to influenced score changes in NAEP reading scores from 1994-1998, two were the most consistent with pattern of correlations found in the data. Together, both median household income (AVGINC) and the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-priced lunch (FRELCH) had fairly large…

This paper describes how a target group of seven students in a combined fourth and fifth grade mathematics class used structured representations to solve fraction problems situated within various realistic contexts. Emphasis is given to the ways in which students' thinking about rational number concepts influences and is influenced by the…

The Mathematics Pentathlon is a tournament of mathematics games held each spring since 1979 to promote the development of mathematical concepts and skills while fostering interaction among the educational community. There are five games in each of four divisions, for grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7. The focus is on active problem solving and…

The Comprehensive School Mathematics Program (CSMP) materials presented here were in the process of development at the time of publication. It is noted that children generally classified as slow learners are, in many cases, pupils who have had unhappy experiences with learning. The instructional approach is designed to: (1) inspire pupils with a…

A series of 28 15-minute video programs in mathematics designed for use in grade 4, It Figures uses a combination of drama and animation to focus on mathematical skills, ideas, and problem-solving strategies. This instructional television series has been used in the United States and Canada since 1982, and a survey of selected teachers using It…

The results of one of the earliest studies in a series of investigations on teachers' selection of content for mathematics instruction suggested that teachers are responsive to content messages that are communicated through textbooks and standardizes tests. The content analyses that are summarized in this report were therefore undertaken in an…

Students in grades four and eight were given parallel forms of mathematics subtests of Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, once using calculators and once without. Performance with calculators was compared to performance on regular administration of subtests. In both grades, mean scores on problem solving and computation subtests were significantly higher…

A total of 102 fourth grade students were assigned to one of six groups defined by the possible combinations of two pupil ability level conditions (above versus below average ability) and three teacher verbal fluency conditions (good grammar, moderately good grammar, poor grammar). Each group was presented a lesson concerning mathematical…

Within an elaborated social-constructivist perspective, I conducted a teaching experiment with two fourth graders to study how a teacher and students can jointly produce the content-specific reversible fraction conception. Ongoing and retrospective analysis of the data revealed the non-trivial process by which students can abstract multiplicative…

This book explores the ways in which fourth-grade students use story, metaphor, and language to develop mathematical thinking skills and strategies. Replete with children's stories and illustrations, the book looks at children as sense-makers, storytellers, language creators, and problem-posers. It focuses on how to create a classroom community…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is mandated by the United States Congress to survey the educational accomplishments of U.S. students and monitor changes in those accomplishments. For more than 25 years, NAEP has assessed the educational achievement of 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students in selected subject areas, making it…

Why should your school have a Family Math Night?: (1) Help students learn essential math concepts; (2) Give parents a chance to serve as models of motivation, persistence and competence; and (3) Promote math success in a supportive setting. With its step-by-step directions and suggestions for both teachers and parents, this book takes the worry…

Describes an innovative approach, for fourth graders who were reviewing mathematics for the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) test, called the TAAS Olympics. Provides guidelines for the program format, preparation, team creation, and score keeping. Highlights specific skills transferable between the games and test taking. (SD)

Communication in the mathematics classroom is currently viewed as an integral part of mathematics instruction. This paper explores the usefulness of math penpal letters as a means of increasing the quality of written communication in mathematics. The focus of this study is the letter writing exchanges between a class of 4th-grade students (n=28)…