The new common core standards for mathematics demand that students (and teachers!) exhibit deeper conceptual understanding. That's music to the ears of education professor John Tapper, who says teachers have overemphasized teaching procedures--and getting right answers. In his new book, "Solving for Why," he makes a powerful case for moving beyond…

Math games bring out kids' natural love of numbers. Yet in the waning days of school, students can't wait for that final bell to ring. Each summer, most students lose about two months of mathematical computation skills. So how do teachers keep their students focused on math up till the end? Before sending them off for the summer, get them hooked…

Presents 15 fun math problems which can be used as filler activities when students have completed their regular work. (JMB)

Discusses ways in which geometry can become the perfect answer for preholiday mathematics lessons. (Author)

A nature walk composed of five activities to help primary students develop a sense of shape and to interest older pupils in concepts such as symmetry and geometric recursion is described. Other suggestions for indoor activities are offered. (MT)

Four computer programs to help pupils master word problems are reviewed. (MT)

An eight-step teaching guide to help elementary students become familiar with electronic calculators. (Author/SJL)

An imaginary journey to Planet Seven is used to introduce the concept of number systems not based on ten. Activities include making a base 7 chart, performing base 7 addition and subtraction, designing Planet Seven currency, and developing other base systems for other planets. (MT)

Simple, classroom-tested probability activities that capture students' interest, develop critical thinking skills, and reinforce addition facts are suggested. All activities involve investigating the probabilities of the sums that come up when two dice are tossed. (MT)

Textbook organization assumes that students can naturally make the jump from practicing a particular operation to applying it. But for students to apply their computational abilities, they need a variety of experiences that books alone cannot provide. Ways of providing these experiences are suggested. (MT)

Math can be the sort of homework parents respect, children enjoy, and teachers savor. Suggestions for achieving this are offered. (MT)

Graphing skills are growing in importance in our information society, presenting facts and concepts in newspapers, magazines, and on television. Graphs incorporated into teaching develop children's problem-solving skills. Ways to use graphs in the classroom are discussed, and examples are given. (MT)

Spreadsheet software allows manipulation of information, helps children to find answers to questions, and encourages them to ask others. Once the teacher sets up the spreadsheet, the program does the work, showing children they can calculate anything, even when their arithmetic skills cannot. (MT)

Presents 37 easy-to-prepare math games, each designed to take five-15 minutes. Topics covered are: relationships and patterns; place value; odd/even numbers; graphs; charts and tables; time; and money. (SJL)

The authors present a scheme for teaching primary grade students about graphing. (SJL)