Reviews evidence that refutes unfavorable portraits of American mathematics teachers in two books, "The Teaching Gap" (James Stigler and James Hiebert) and "Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics" (Liping Ma). Young students' difficulty with the "equals" concept can be addressed by teaching algebraic concepts…

The report on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) Video Study of mathematics teaching demonstrates the complexity of teaching as it provides lessons about conservatism and the role of reform in mathematics teaching. (SLD)

The information in "Teaching Mathematics in Seven Countries" will be useful to researchers and designers of educational interventions. For particular interest is that no single method of mathematics instruction was observed in all the high-performing countries. (SLD)

Two articles discuss elementary school mathematics. One focuses on data collection, suggesting a children's counting book, "How Many Feet in the Bed?", to initiate several possible problems. The other offers a measuring activity for finding average heights and a survey activity to determine the characteristics of an average student. (SM)

Most mathematics anxiety has its roots in the teaching and teachers of mathematics. Because people generally are not math anxious before going to school, an examination of the previous statement proves to be well founded. This article reviews the literature and discusses different ways that teachers may help to prevent their students from becoming…

The purpose of this notebook is to assist educators who are designing and implementing inservice education programs to facilitate the effective use of computer integrated instruction (CII) in schools. The book is divided into the following five sections: (1) Effective Inservice (a brief summary of inservice literature focused on inservice…

Computer programs covering several subject areas and grade levels are reviewed. The programs include multimedia courseware, simulations, and interactive software. Teaching tips which suggest methods of utilizing the programs are offered. (IAH)

Suggests that the instructional methods used with the subjects in the study by E. Fennema and others may have allowed teachers' gender stereotypes to be activated more than traditional instructional methods do, resulting in differences in primary-grade students' problem-solving strategies. (SLD)

Discusses the use of the symbolic manipulator which helps students solve equations one step at a time. Recommends features to look for in algebra tools. Compares 14 programs on general, graphic, numeric, and symbolic manipulation and provides short reviews of each. (MVL)

Described are ways in which some teachers have used a software package called "The Geometric Supposer." The development of inquiry skills is stressed. Recommendations for students using the Supposer are provided. (CW)

This issue of the newsletter focuses on the teaching of mathematics to mildly handicapped students. The feature article reviews the theory of generalization and its application to specific practices in teaching arithmetic. A set of six-step guidelines is offered for the teacher to follow in ensuring that generalization of arithmetic skills takes…