Primary education in Russia has failed to adapt to the needs of post-Soviet society, and is still based on rote learning and memorization instead of learning through discovery and learning to use and apply what is learned.

The purpose of this study was to investigate prospective mathematics teachers' knowledge of common conceptions and misconceptions that sixth and seventh grade students had about multiplication of fractions. In addition, prospective teachers' knowledge of the sources of these misconceptions and strategies they knew to overcome these misconceptions…

The authors concede that thinking strategies are important, but argue that instruction in these strategies may not be warranted. (MK)

The author defends the teaching of thinking strategies. (MK)

A general discussion of thinking strategies is given and researchable questions related to thinking strategies are presented. (MK)

Bangladesh, a poor, densely populated country the size of Wisconsin, typically has elementary classes of 50 students learning by call-and-response techniques. Since 1996, 13,000 teachers from 2,900 primary schools have been trained in multiple ways of teaching and learning. Teachers are determined to personalize learning. (MLH)

This article presents an eclectic approach to spelling instruction, combining ideas from two basic methods: phonetic and memorization. Teaching procedures, student activities, and materials are suggested. A chart of the most basic reading/spelling generalizations is included. (SJL)

To produce maximum learning achievement, parents and teachers can take five basic steps: (1) finding a simple approach to mastery learning; (2) improving learning conditions at the beginning of sequential courses; (3) improving the home study environment; (4) helping students develop "automatic" reading skills; and (5) stressing higher mental…

A study sought to ascertain the "official" conception of numeracy in Scotland as published in Her Majesty's Inspectorate (HMI) audit reports. 300 HMI reports on 300 primary schools were examined for references to computational proficiency and understanding of number. Segments signifying proficiency were significantly more numerous than…

Six elementary-age children with learning disabilities were found to learn subtraction facts more rapidly when a rule teaching and correction strategy was employed, compared to learning facts by rote. A study of generalization of rule usage found that the two children studied did generalize the strategy to an additional problem. (Author/JDD)

Four experiments evaluated flash card use for teaching number facts to elementary-school students with learning difficulties. Effective treatments involved: re-presenting a missed problem after the next item; using error-contingent reprimands; seating the tutor and student knee-to-knee, rather than with a desk between them; and a combination of…

Although rote learning is a heretical notion to many educators, memorizing, reciting, and drilling may be what is needed to improve test scores and provide students with the necessary skills for solving problems and developing complex thinking skills. Sidebars summarize direct-teaching methods for mathematics and a Core Knowledge curriculum…

A charter school in Kenai, Alaska, offers back-to-basics curriculum and direct instruction. The school has drawn many home-schoolers back to the public school system, and consistently scores high on standardized tests. The school's success is attributed to teachers' collaboration and common vision, continuity across grades, high academic…

Twenty primary-aged students with learning disabilities were tutored by nondisabled students in grades 3-6. Tutored students' performance on single-digit addition facts improved compared to a no-treatment control group. There were no significant differences between two tutoring procedures: a counting-on approach and a rote-memorization approach.…

The Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) program uses microcomputers to help high risk students master basic thinking processes, grasp course content, and apply learned information in various problem-solving situations. Specifically, HOTS aids students with metacognition, inference from context, and generalization skills. It also improves…