In this article, former high school teacher and K-12 math supervisor Stacy Winters questions if her approach to high school math instruction was what was best for student learning. After observing elementary classrooms and the way the teachers were able to engage the students in student centered, hands on, interactive, and fun math lessons, she…

How can educators encourage and better prepare students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based fields? To start, students are more likely to pursue these fields if they enjoy and perceive themselves to be good at them. This means introducing relevant concepts and skills at an early age and embedding them…

In the art form of "kolam," dots called "pulli" are arranged in rhombic, square, triangular, or free shapes, and a single, uninterrupted linear or curvilinear line, called the "kambi," intertwines the dots (Yanagisawa & Nagata, 2007). While there are no written or verbally stated rules, Yanagisawa and Nagata have…

Presents the use of children's literature to teach mathematics, encouraging children to identify, discuss, and extend "math morals" of the stories. Provides examples of using literature and classroom activities to identify principles regarding incomplete information, the need for standard units, commutative operations, and the rapidity of…

Describes the use of math journals in one kindergarten classroom. Asserts that use of the journals, in which children record their problem-solving processes, makes them think about and use various symbols to represent their thoughts; keeps them actively involved in reasoning, comparing, counting, and other mathematical concepts; and encourages…