For students to advance beyond arithmetic, they must learn how to attend to the structure of math notation. This process can be challenging due to students' left-to-right computing tendencies. Brackets are used in mathematics to indicate precedence but can also be used as superfluous cues and perceptual grouping mechanisms in instructional…

This experiment tested the hypothesis that organizing arithmetic fact practice by equivalent values facilitates children's understanding of math equivalence. Children (M age = 8 years 6 months, N = 104) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 practice conditions: (a) equivalent values, in which problems were grouped by equivalent sums (e.g., 3 + 4 = 7, 2…

This article reports on an ethnographic study of a 10-year-old's pursuit of school-based mathematics across school and home to suggest that participating in school-based mathematics is a cross-setting phenomenon in at least 2 ways. First, I illustrate how accomplishing school-based mathematics literally extends into the home and how individuals…

Two studies on the effectiveness of supplemental homework assignments on the acquisition of basic skills (math facts and spelling) with elementary school-aged learning-disabled students found three factors which maximized homework effectiveness: rate of homework completion, percentage correct of the homework, and rate of acquisition of the content…

Suggested is a format for sequencing instructional activities during the typical elementary school mathematics period to elicit better teaching and more learning. To illustrate each component of the format, a lesson on fractions appropriate for fourth or fifth grade is outlined. (CW)