Background/purpose: The Computational Thinking ability has become a fundamental skill in the 21st century and has been integrated into educational curricula in various countries. For this curricular integration to be effective, it is essential that teachers are prepared to incorporate the development of this competency into their practices. In…

As we move further into the digital age, the acquisition of digital literacy (DL) and computational thinking (CT) skills is emerging internationally as an essential goal for students in contemporary school curricula. As the world becomes more uncertain and volatile due to impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), international unrest, climate…

Considers traditional ways in which attempts have been made to help students become fluent in mathematics and offers a model for ways in which fluency can be achieved with a more economic use of students' time and effort than through traditional models of exercises based on repetition. (MKR)

A generalized method of synthetic division where the divisor polynomial may be of any degree equal to or larger than 1, and the dividend polynomial may be of equal or larger degree than the divisor polynomial and a generalization of the familiar remainder theorem, are presented. (Author/MK)

Examines problem-solving results among second-grade students in three schools that were all using a reformed mathematics curriculum. Except for one problem, more students used a mental procedure than the standard written algorithms, and both methods were used with approximately the same degree of accuracy. (AIM)

Two alternatives are given to the decomposition and equal addition subtraction algorithms. (MK)

Considered are what discrete mathematics includes, some parallels and differences between new math and discrete mathematics (listed in a table), and lessons to be learned. A list of references is included. (MNS)

The author feels teaching division of fractions is worthwhile because it will help students understand other algorithms. (MK)

The multiplication and division algorithms that are taught in German schools are presented. It is suggested that these algorithms may be better than standard algorithms in terms of development of useful concepts and processes. (MK)

Three short essays provide teaching suggestions for lessons on base two, order of operations, and ratios used to motivate a number of mathematical ideas. (MK)

The author and many illustrious co-signers sent an open letter to the U.S. Department of Education protesting a report designating 10 "exemplary" or "promising" math programs. The programs over-emphasize data analysis and statistics, de-emphasize arithmetic and algebra, and advocate early calculator use, which can undermine…

This response to Usiskin's editorial comment on calculator use in the May 1983 issue considers why arithmetic is taught. The belief that mathematics improves thinking and the humanist position that it is part of our cultural heritage are noted. The role of mathematics in the curriculum should be reconsidered. (MNS)

Some techniques for developing the ability to multiply and divide by powers of ten with ease and understanding are presented. (Author/MK)

Attention is drawn to an ancient Greek method for finding the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers. A link is established between this method and a well-known method of obtaining the highest common factor (HCF) numbers. This leads to consideration of some relationships between HCF and LCM. (Author/MK)

Results of this study, done with underachieving ninth graders, indicate that flow charting as a structure for basic skills instruction can be considered as effective as the traditional approach. (MK)