In a pre-service mathematics methods class I taught, in which we mathematized political districting (first horizontally, then vertically), student questions led to engaging mathematics, in particular, the development of a new number sequence.

This paper reports on the design, implementation, and evaluation processes of an activity that focused on the comparison meaning of the subtraction of integers and included the number line model as the primary representation. Finding the answer and determining the sign of the answer in the subtraction questions were targeted as the learning…

The algebraic group Spin[subscript 3 × 3] arises from spinning collections of the numbers 1-9 on a 3×3 game board. The authors have been using this group, as well as a corresponding online application, to introduce undergraduate students to core concepts in group theory. We discuss the benefits of using this deceptively simple, toy-like puzzle in…

This theoretical reflection implies the main proposal that the activities of planning and teaching are linked; it is the main ingredient to cognition and metacognition. Two main parts make up this article: a theoretical discussion of the linkage, detailing a descriptive letter and content to be taught in the classroom. Within this part, a…

We are pleased to bring you this follow-up to Mairéad Hourigan and Aisling Leavy's article [EJ1289314] that was published in issue 1 this year. In this contribution, they demonstrate that embedding mathematics within a rich context and learning sequence assists with the consolidation of student understanding and makes more effective use of teacher…

Thomas Kuhn (1962/2012) introduced the term "paradigm shift" to the scientific literature to describe how knowledge in science develops. The aims of this article are to identify paradigm shifts, or revolutions, that have occurred in mathematics, and to discuss their relevance to teaching mathematics in schools. The authors argue that…

Using a game-based context and concentrating explicitly on language, students in the early years are able to make sense about place value amid the vagaries of the English language in naming numbers. This conceptual approach to understanding place value allows students to further develop number strategies beyond counting by ones.

This article draws on some ideas explored during and after a writing workshop to develop classroom resources for the reSolve: Mathematics by Inquiry (www.resolve.edu.au) project. The project develops classroom and professional learning resources that will promote a spirit of inquiry in school mathematics from Foundation to year ten. The…

Students enrolled in a middle school prealgebra or algebra course often struggle to conceptualize and understand the meaning of radical notation when it is introduced. For example, although it is important for students to approximate the decimal value of a number such as [square root of] 30 and estimate the value of a square root in the form of…

This article describes how teachers address issues and tensions that students meet in learning division of fractions. First, students must make sense of division of fractions on their own by working individually and in small groups, using concrete or pictorial representations, inventing their own processes, and presenting and justifying their…

Tossing a fair coin 1000 times can have an unexpected result. In the activities presented here, players keep track of the accumulated total for heads and tails after each toss, noting which player is in the lead or whether the players are tied. The winner is the player who was in the lead for the higher number of turns over the course of the game.…

Developing an understanding of place value and the base-ten number system is considered a fundamental goal of the early primary grades. For years, teachers have anecdotally reported that students struggle with place-value concepts. Among the common errors cited are misreading such numbers as 26 and 62 by seeing them as identical in meaning,…

In providing a continued focus on tasks and activities that help to illustrate key ideas embedded in the new Australian Curriculum, the focus in this issue is on Measurement in the Measurement and Geometry strand. The small unit of work on measurement presented in this article has activities that can be modified to meet the requirements of…

Students around the world have difficulties in learning about fractions. In many countries, the average student never gains a conceptual knowledge of fractions. This research guide provides suggestions for teachers and administrators looking to improve fraction instruction in their classrooms or schools. The recommendations are based on a…

Today, the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSI 2010) expect students in as early as eighth grade to be knowledgeable about irrational numbers. Yet a common tendency in classrooms and on standardized tests is to avoid rational and irrational solutions to problems in favor of integer solutions, which are easier for students to…