This issue of Mathematics Education Dialogues focuses on the use of calculators in the mathematics classroom. The eleven articles on this theme include: (1) "Groping and Hoping for a Consensus on Calculator Use" (Zalman Usiskin); (2) "Let's Abolish Pencil-and-Paper Arithmetic" (Anthony Ralston); (3) "Do We Need Calculators?" (Kim Mackey); (4) "How…

The first of two documents presented, "Better Mathematics for K-8" (Iris M. Carl), describes the underlying assumptions, purpose, origin, formation, goals, and content of the "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics" produced by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Information on implementing the Standards is…

A comprehensive mathematics program for grade 2 is presented in 58 units. These units are organized around four central themes: (1) number and numeration; (2) operations with numbers; (3) geometry and measurement; and (4) graphs, problem solving, and probability. A spiral approach is used with various topics being indexed as to unit and page.…

A comprehensive mathematics program for grade 3 is presented in 66 units. These units are organized around four central themes: (1) number and numeration; (2) operations with numbers; (3) geometry and measurement; and (4) algebraic concepts, graphs, probability, statistics, and problem-solving. A spiral approach is used with various topics being…

"In Brief" focuses on K-12 mathematics and science research and implications for policymakers, educators, and researchers seeking to improve student learning and achievement This brief highlights the learning gains of 240 elementary students involved in a long-term study in Madison, Wisconsin and their remarkable ability to reason with arithmetic…

Several math activities designed to teach patterns which can be found in arrays of 16 squares organized into a four-by-four pattern are presented in this issue of "Student Math Notes." The activities include: (1) determining how many squares and rectangles are contained in a four-by-four array; (2) figuring out the least number of lines…

School mathematics is governed by a powerful tradition as regards both content and methods. In the first stage of the Alternative Course of Mathematics (ALM) project, an analysis is being made of the mathematics used in the everyday life of the community. By interviewing adults and children outside school, an analysis is also being made of the way…

The application of a linear learning model, which combines learning theory with a structural analysis of the exercises given to students, to an elementary mathematics curriculum is examined. Elementary arithmetic items taken by about 100 second-grade students on 26 weekly tests form the data base. Weekly predictions of group performance on…

Elementary school activities designed for celebraing the significant dates of each school month, excluding December, are described in this compilation. The collection covers birthdays of well-known people, historical events, mathematics, writing, reading, science, history, social studies, art, and cooking. (JW)

This manual presents a taxonomy for the classification of elementary school mathematics content and provides training in the use of that taxonomy. The taxonomy is designed to classify the content of various curricular materials as well as the content of actual classroom instruction. Three factors are used to define the taxonomy: (1) general…

Postulated here is the notion that the exploration of number patterns with calculators is a valuable mathematical learning activity that should be commenced in the primary grades. Various activities are presented that make use of the constant function key, which is available on many of the inexpensive four-function calculators. (JJK)

A discussion is presented concerning variables associated with children's representation of certain addition and subtraction problems. Problem components are classified as physical, pictorial, sensual, verbal-spoken, verbal-written, symbolic, or internal. Problems are discussed as abstract (symbolic) or nonsymbolic. Three problem components are…

Research shows that introducing basic forms of algebraic reasoning in elementary school enhances children's learning of arithmetic. In this guide, a research and a professional development project are described that have taken a practical approach to introducing algebraic reasoning to elementary students in Massachusetts. (Author/SOE)

The "Idea Place," a regular feature carried by the magazine "Learning," provides an assortment of practical teaching techniques selected from commercially available materials and from ideas submitted by readers. Games and activities are given for the areas of reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, science, social studies, and…

The focus of this article is patterns and pattern making using geometric figures. Included are sequentially planned activities for K-8 students that help them first to discover the attributes of various figures and later how to combine these figures into patterns. Finally, this information is applied to real world activities such as quilting and…