Having a nice mathematical task is one challenge for a teacher--another is making it come alive for students in the classroom. The pathway to the latter is pedagogy--the range of teaching strategies possessed and activated by the teacher. This article presents a delightful mathematical activity known as Spirolaterals, a geometrical figure formed…

Since many decisions in politics, economics, and social sciences are based on statistics, statistical literacy is a key component for an active citizen. Statistical skills and statistical reasoning can already be enhanced in primary school. Therefore, not only in Germany, statistics is an element of the primary-school curriculum, which usually…

GeoGebra is a mathematics software system that can serve as a tool for inquiry-based learning. This paper deals with the application of a fraction comparison software, which is constructed by GeoGebra, for use in a dynamic mathematics environment. The corresponding teaching and learning issues have also been discussed.

Having trouble finding the right app? In this article, Kevin Larkin discusses the difficulties teachers encounter when searching the App Store for high quality, appropriate apps that support students' mathematical learning. Kevin provides a useful link to a collection of over 100 app reviews.

What role should technology play in instruction? One of the greatest challenges of teaching is preparing the citizens of tomorrow for an unpredictable future. What knowledge do students need? Which skills? And how can the author, as their classroom teacher, provide experiences that will ensure students have the knowledge and skills to become…

Integral calculus is generally regarded as a fundamental but advanced aspect of mathematics, and it is not generally studied until students are aged about fifteen or older. Understanding the transformative potential of information and communication technology, this project undertook an investigation in four Australian schools to train students…

Social development, the progress of technology, and changing economic forces certainly affect the development of the current educational system. One of the main problems of today's school system is how to maintain focus, concentration, and interest among students with regards to the learning that takes place during classes. An important feature of…

In the September 2010 issue of "Mathematics Teaching," Tom O'Brien offered practical advice about how to teach addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and contrasted his point of view with that of H.H. Wu. In this article, the author revisits Tom's examples, drawing on his methodology while, hopefully, simplifying it and giving it…

The concept of "function" spans elementary school through high school. When introducing the topic to elementary school and middle school students, the authors ask them to work with a variety of examples and representations of functions, since a formal definition of a function is rather abstract. They give the most accessible geometric functions…

A number of underlying principles for including technology in the mathematics classroom is provided by Way and Webb (2006). They see technology, if incorporated in a rich and meaningful way, as potentially providing: (1) a shift from "instructivist" to constructivist education philosophies; (2) a move from teacher-centred to…

Students appear to be able to see number relationships and patterns but have difficulty recognizing the visual properties of shapes, especially if the shapes are in different positions. Their difficulty in the visual and spatial realm is often linked to a lack of drawing experience and possibly undeveloped fine-motor skills. The author, as a…

During the 2010-2011 school year, McWhirter Elementary Professional Development Laboratory School in Webster, Texas, faced a significant reduction in funds available for professional learning. In this article, the author describes how videoconferencing sustained the school's professional learning initiatives on a shrinking budget. By rethinking…

It is a pity that for so many people not involved in Teaching, and for a surprising number who are, mathematics in schools is "chiefly" all about the ability to know a set of facts, multiplication tables and addition bonds in particular, rather than the capacity to reason and explore patterns and relationships in Number and Shape.…

In this paper we will present the methodology and pedagogy of Elementary Mathematical Modeling as a one-semester course in the liberal arts core. We will focus on the elementary models in finance and business. The main mathematical tools in this course are the difference equations and matrix algebra. We also integrate computer technology and…

Presents the listing (and documentation) for an arithmetic drill program with color graphics and sound. The program offers simple arithmetic problems illustrated by colorful dinosaurs. A buzzer sounds if an answer is incorrect while a short piece of dinosaur music is heard if an answer is correct. (JN)