Despite numerous recommendations, little has been done to integrate calculator use into elementary school classrooms. Cost, equal access, and the existence of computers are not obstacles to calculator use: our attitudes and beliefs are. What must be done to integrate calculators into the curriculum is outlined. (MNS)

Taking advantage of calculators involves becoming knowledgeable about the research on calculators, recognizing intangible benefits of calculator use, developing an open calculator policy, allowing students to explore with calculators, never requiring calculator checks of paper-and-pencil computations, using standardized tests designed for…

Six bonuses that students and teachers experience when using calculators are described. Then problem solving and creative problem-making are discussed, followed by practical suggestions for teachers who want to try calculators. Advice on personalizing the use of calculators and recognizing some of their limitations is also included. (MNS)

The decision by the Connecticut State Board of Education to endorse use of calculators on the state's new eighth-grade mastery test was followed by the purchase of calculators for the students. The role of calculators in society and the curriculum is discussed, as well as testing goals. (MNS)

It is concluded: (1) elementary school students enjoy doing problems, but have trouble thinking them out; (2) students need to work on a variety of types; (3) calculator use can definitely help students become better; and (4) students need experience in group work. Details of the instructional approach used are provided. (MP)

Ways elementary school teachers might use calculators to help students are noted. A total of nine activities, listed under place value, computation, and estimation, are provided to assist the classroom instructor in effectively employing calculators. (MP)

Ideas for teaching pupils of the specialized language of calculators before they are used as tools in the classroom are presented. (MP)

Describes how to teach the solving of multistep problems without recording the intermediate results. Stresses using calculators having memories and necessary functions. Provides activity worksheets. (YP)

Calculator activities for grade 1 are presented. Included are introductory activities, such as keying and finding patterns, and skill lessons, with such topics as ordering number, greater than and less than, estimation, and problem solving included. (MNS)

Several problems that can be used with calculators are provided. Teaching tips and references are included. (MNS)

Calculators are seen to shift the student focus in problem-solving situations from "how to do it" to "what to do," by keeping computation from standing in the way when pupils write or solve problems. (MP)

Ways to make a discussion of the commutative properties of addition and multiplication more interesting to students are reviewed. An alternative promoted is a transposition-of-digits property, seen as useful in a number of instructional situations. The proposed investigation could be structured around calculator use. (MP)

Developing numerical relationships with calculators is emphasized. Calculators furnish some needed support for students as they investigate the value of fractions as the numerators or denominators change. An example with Logo programing for computers is also included. (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)

Problems focusing on number theory that can make good use of the calculator in discovering and proving simple theorems are proposed. The focus is on the properties of subtracting the smaller of a three digit number and its mirror number from the larger in a process that leads to zero. (MP)