Ratio and proportional reasoning tasks abound that have connections to real-world situations. Examples in this article demonstrate how textbook tasks can easily be transformed into authentic real-world problems that shed light on issues of equity and fairness, such as population growth and crime rates. A few ideas are presented on how teachers can…

This article describes a curriculum integration project designed to help students better contextualize their learning: The High M.A.R.C.S. Project linked mathematics, art, research, collaboration, and storytelling. The article explains the project in detail, discusses sample student work from the project, and describes how the project work was…

Analyzes National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) items to assess student understanding of spread as well as center, such as mean and median. Discusses implications for teaching statistics in 5th and 6th grade mathematics. (KHR)

Proposes examining word origins as a teaching strategy for helping middle school students speak the language of mathematics as well as promote students' general vocabulary development. Includes roots, meanings, related words, and notes for middle school mathematics vocabulary. (KHR)

Describes a three-step process--exploring, inventing, and discovering--that helps students derive concepts actively from problem solving. (YDS)

Examines 8th grade units from the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP). Identifies differences in older and newer conceptions, fundamental objects of study, typical problems, and typical solution methods in algebra. Also discusses where the issue of what is new in algebra is relevant to many other innovative middle school curricula. (KHR)

Describes a framework for examining mathematical discourse and shows how to apply this framework to appreciate the complex relationship between discourse and understanding in mathematics. Focuses on the role of discourse and the different types that emerge as students solve a particular task. (KHR)

Describes a model to help teachers implement reform initiatives that integrate pedagogy and content and to integrate these reform practices into the current curriculum. (ASK)

Reviews communication as a fundamental component in implementing a balanced and effective mathematics program. Presents a classroom episode in which students solve problems, use rubrics to rate the written response of a peer, and discuss solutions and decisions for rating their peers' papers. (KHR)

Uses SimCalc MathWorlds, which is downloaded from the World Wide Web, to engage students in algebraic problem-solving activities. Uses software to animate characters by creating graphs of position and velocity. (YDS)

This article describes a professional development model in which middle-grades teachers focused on algebraic thinking as part of their participation in a mathematics academy.

Describes the use of the principles of challenging work, student autonomy, and student collaboration to involve students in constructing mathematical meaning as part of the regular curriculum. Challenge is created by the material and by the classroom environment to encourage student interest and thinking. Autonomy is encouraged by leading students…