This article presents a Vygotsky-inspired analysis of how a teacher mediated a "thinking aloud" whole-group discussion in a 6th grade mathematics classroom. This discussion centered on finding patterns in a triangular array of consecutive numbers as a phase towards building recursive and direct algebraic formulas. By a "thinking aloud" discussion…

Discusses linguistic influence on children's numerical development. Describes and reviews recent papers that address the relationship between number naming systems and children's numerical concepts. (Contains 20 references.) (ASK)

Explores how to develop children's understanding of mathematical vocabulary. Presents a lesson in which the class works on the concept of dimension, and issues raised by a discussion of applied linguistics and mathematics education. Discussion was stimulated by advice from the National Numeracy Strategy (NNS) vocabulary book. (KHR)

This paper focuses on lexical ambiguity. With respect to mathematics classrooms, polysemy has been mentioned as one of the principal concerns, namely certain words having different but related meanings. It may also happen when different meanings of a word are presumed in everyday context and in another environment, in this case in mathematics…

Describes theoretical points concerning the idea of semiotic means of objectification. Analyzes classroom activity by observing the interface between the spoken and the seen. Discusses the role of a category of linguistic terms related to actions of showing or pointing out something that constitute a key element in the mathematical discursive…

The new, and prevalent, raised-dash notation (for subtraction) appearing in school mathematics texts is examined, especially for its effects on students' computational skills. Reasons for a return to the standard notation of the centered dash are presented. (Author/MN)

Offers insight as to why children switch back to their mother tongue in mathematics classes. Discusses implications for teachers of mathematics in such settings. (Author/CCM)

This paper documents a culturally specific language strength for developing number sense among Oneida- and Lakota-speaking primary students. Qualitative research methods scaffolded this research study: culture informants were interviewed and interviews were transcribed and coded for analysis; culture documents were selected for analysis; and…

Suggested are sight word activities which will help students recognize both language and mathematical symbols in reading materials. Activities described include context clues, structural analysis, phonic cues, and dictionary skills. (DS)

Identified are variables affecting performance of algebraic word problems for eighth graders. An appropriate readability level would seem necessary but not sufficient for student success. The structural variables used appeared to be good predictors of both the correct strategies and solving time. (Author/YP)

Discusses the use of calculators to calculate multiple operations. Describes calculating procedures and provides four different types of examples. (YP)

Investigated were Australian and Papua New Guinean elementary school children's strategies and errors on arithmetic word problems. Reports that (1) the two samples showed similar strategies and similar errors and (2) the main variable determining difficulty was the semantic structure of the questions. (YP)

Illustrates how, through the words selected, the patterns of interaction experienced, and the range of events constructed in a bilingual sixth-grade classroom, students and teachers defined what counted as mathematics, mathematical actions, and being mathematicians. The patterns of language use and the range of mathematical events within the first…