A deep conceptual understanding of elementary mathematics as appropriate for teaching is increasingly thought to be an important aspect of elementary teacher capacity. This study explores preservice teachers' initial mathematical understandings and how these understandings developed during a mathematics methods course for upper elementary…

There is growing recognition of the special needs of mathematically gifted learners. This article reviews policy developments and current research and theory on giftedness in mathematics. It includes a discussion of the nature of mathematical ability as well as the factors that make up giftedness in mathematics. The article is set in the context…

Two enrichment articles are presented; one dealing with finding partial fractions and reducing to polynomials; the other, with finding the heaviest object from eleven others of equal weight where all twelve are identical in appearance. (JG)

In order to solve a functional equation, one must identify possible functions that satisfy a given equation. This paper seeks to convince the reader that students in high school could be exposed profitably to certain functional equations. Several examples of functional equations are given and discussed. (Author/MP)

The use of computer-enhanced resources throughout a second-year algebra course had no significant effect on algebra achievement or attitudes, but some ability differences were noted. (MP)

A questionnaire survey was used to gauge the opinions of mathematics teachers about some history of mathematics materials recently developed for use in the classroom. Teachers' opinions of the materials were generally favorable, but a sizeable proportion responded that they would not use the material in their own teaching. (Author/MN)