This article is written to share teaching ideas about using commonly available computer applications--a spreadsheet, "The Geometer's Sketchpad", and "Wolfram Alpha"--to explore three classic and historically significant problems from the probability theory. These ideas stem from the authors' work with prospective economists,…

Students are faced with many transitions in their middle school mathematics classes. To build knowledge, skills, and confidence in the key areas of algebra and geometry, students often need to practice using numbers and polygons in a variety of contexts. Teachers also want students to explore ideas from probability and statistics. Teachers know…

Multiple-choice testing is an educational reality. Rather than complain about the negative impact these tests may have on teaching and learning, why not use them to better understand your students' true mathematical knowledge and comprehension? Maryann Wickett and Eunice Hendrix-Martin show teachers how to move beyond the student's answer--right…

The new Common Core State Standards for Mathematics have been formulated to provide students with instruction that will help them acquire a thorough knowledge of math at their grade level, which will in turn enable them to move on to higher mathematics with competence and confidence. "Hands-on Activities for Teaching the Common Core Math…

In many mathematics classes, students are asked to learn via the discovery method, in the hope that the intrinsic beauty of mathematics becomes more accessible and that making conjectures, forming hypotheses, and analyzing patterns will help them compute fluently and solve problems creatively and resourcefully (NCTM 2000). The activity discussed…

Presents a probability activity addressing students' misconceptions regarding the Law of Large Numbers. Provides students with better conceptual understanding of the Law of Large Numbers. (ASK)

Presents activities that allow primary grade students to develop specific thinking strategies for basic facts such as counting on, using doubles, and making 10 in problem-solving settings. Discusses other topics such as probability, spatial sense, and money. Offers rich opportunities for reasoning and communication. (ASK)

Presents an activity introducing probability and patterns to multigrade students. Uses the storybook "The Thirteen Days of Halloween" to demonstrate numbers, patterns, and probability. (ASK)

Suggests guided discovery techniques to help students find the rule by which an arrival sequence of consecutively numbered school buses is considered a "success," and presents arguments by Honsberger for a formula to calculate the number of successful patterns for a given number of buses. (SEW)

This book contains a classroom-tested approach to the teaching of problem solving to all students in Grades 4-6, regardless of ability. Information on problem solving in general is provided, then mathematical problems on logic, whole numbers, number theory, fractions, decimals, geometry, ratio, proportion, percent, probability, sets, and…

This book is a guide to the development of mathematical talent in students in grades K through 8. The first chapter is on developing mathematical promise and considers characteristics of students who are mathematically promising, the goals of mathematics instruction, how to find and/or create good problems, models for increasing the numbers and…

This book reinforces the outstanding work done by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in developing curriculum standards for students in kindergarten through fourth grade by discussing the 13 strands of mathematics and their implications for teachers and parents who work with students. It also provides some suggested resources…

Five sets of activities for students are included in this document. Each is designed for use in junior high and secondary school mathematics instruction. The first is concerned with the use of models in mathematics. The second contains a variety of activities involving polygonal numbers. The third set of activities includes a variety of games for…

The materials and ideas in this document are intended to be used by teachers in schools in order to bring adults and children together to experience good mathematics. It features an evening of hands-on mathematics scheduled for one night a week for four weeks. Students and adults come together to share mathematics activities, solve problems, and…

The materials and ideas in this document are intended to be used by teachers in schools in order to bring adults and children together to experience good mathematics. It features an evening of hands-on mathematics scheduled for one night a week for four weeks. Students and adults come together to share mathematics activities, solve problems, and…