As a science leader in her school, the author is always looking for new and interesting ways to inspire children in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) subjects. Attending several science conferences introduced her to new STEM programs, such as Street Science and fractals. In this article, she shares a couple of the activities…

Formative assessment is a process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students' achievements of intended instructional outcomes. Formative assessment means assessment embedded in instruction. That definition was adopted in 2006 by the Council of Chief State…

Measurement is a mathematics skill students encounter often in their daily lives. The act of measuring involves the use of concrete, hands-on materials that students find engaging and appealing. According to Martinie (2004), the best way to teach measurement "is to find or create situations in which students need to measure and let them…

This article describes ways in which technology-supported mathematical investigation can engage students with substantive mathematics. It focuses particularly on the ways in which the NCTM Process and Content Standards for the elementary grades can be supported by the use of interactive software such as The Geometer's Sketchpad. (Contains 6…

Describes two card games to motivate students to understand number sense concepts that can be used at the 2nd-5th grade levels. (ASK)

Uses the history of China to present examples of mathematics that can be usefully employed in primary classrooms. Challenges teachers to translate these ideas into practical activities for children. (Author/CCM)

Discusses the role of project work in primary mathematics using a junior primary class example to illustrate the role of the teacher in creating a climate for effective mathematics learning. (Author/CCM)

Describes the Circle Scribe Disk Compass and explains its use in helping children to explore patterns and geometry. Topics include Fibonnacci's spiral and regular polygons. (MM)

Suggests using literature to study geometry and presents activities on the book "Sitting in My Box." (Author/NB)

Presents a variety of activities in which 4th grade students investigate prisms and pyramids by building models from folded paper and drinking straws. (Author/NB)

Focuses on children making sense of multiplication. In an activity called "Silent Multiplication," students use what they know about easier multiplication problems to solve increasingly difficult, related problems mentally. (Author/NB)

Describes and shares one incident of a teacher's mathematics exploration in a professional development setting to exemplify the ideas of the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics. Focuses on the handshake problem which tries to find out how many handshakes will occur if 20 people shake hands with every other person. (ASK)

Children begin to develop mathematical thinking before they enter school. Art, baking, playing with blocks, counting numbers, games, puzzles, singing, playing with pretend money, water play all these early mathematical experiences help the children to learn in the elementary school years.

Several researchers have noted how children's whole number schemes can interfere with their efforts to learn fractions. An Australian study found that children who were successful with the solution of rational number tasks exhibited greater whole number knowledge and more flexible solution strategies. Behr and Post (1988) indicated that children…

This book is designed to help teachers understand children's intuitive problem solving and computational processes and to figure out how to use that knowledge to enhance students' understanding of arithmetic. This book provides numerous examples of classroom dialogues that indicate how algebraic ideas emerge in children's thinking and what…