This report discusses the change in mathematics curriculum influenced by researchers, society, and the mathematics field. Many research results suggest that students should learn mathematics by experience. Students' misconceptions may be formed because of the sudden shift from arithmetic to algebra. Up to the eighth grade, mathematical content has…

Mathematics activities involving the construction of spirolaterals are presented in this issue of "Student Math Notes." Spirolaterals are figures in which sequences of line segments of differing lengths, connected by angles of a constant size, are drawn repeatedly to create a geometric design. The activities presented involve the…

This bulletin concerns the role of memorization in mathematics instruction. Sections of the bulletin are devoted to discussions of: old math vs. new math; the importance of memorization ability on mathematics learning; misconceptions about memory; how to enhance the memory, including short-term vs. long-term memory systems, attention, interest,…

Discusses characteristic approaches that girls and women bring to learning and scientific inquiry. Describes strategies for teaching girls in classrooms including connecting mathematics, science, and technology to the real world; teacher and student developed metaphors; fostering an atmosphere of true collaboration; encouraging girls to act as…

This activity guide is a supplement to the November 1996 issue of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Student Math Notes. It contains a series of problems based on one main story problem. Using this problem and the other problems contained in the guide based on it, students explore different mathematical concepts such as graph theory,…

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…

Presented with appropriate formulas and illustrations are five lessons suitable for college mathematics undergraduate students, including Pi and the limit of (sin alpha)/alpha, the structure of orthogonal transformations, a simple proof of Zorn's Lemma, the converse of Liouville's Theorem, and visualizing the p-adic integers. (JJK)

Society's perception of women in the field of mathematics is slowly changing, but strong social messages remain that technology, mathematics, and science are nontraditional arenas for girls, and girls self-select out of these areas. This booklet is directed to both families and educators, because the work of encouraging girls in math begins at…

Each publication in the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC) Focus series presents a small selection of the Clearinghous collection focused on a topic of particular interest to mathematics and science teachers. In addition to meeting general requirements for inclusion in the ENC collection, curriculum materials in these publications are…

The fourth part of a 10-part series, this report was compiled by the Educational Development Center at Wilkes College. The series deals with various aspects of the treatment of delinquents and is intended as a summary of research findings in each of the areas treated. Each report was prepared by a scholar-practitioner and is presented in a way…

This publication takes a look at lesson study both in its Japanese form and as it is being implemented in the United States. It contains the lesson study process, the rationale for using such an approach, and illustrates how teachers and administrators around the United States are taking the first steps toward adapting and implementing lesson…

The focus of this special issue is mathematics education. All articles were written by graduates of the new masters Degree program in which students earn a Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Mathematics Education at San Francisco State University. Articles include: (1) "Developing Teacher-Leaders in a Masters Degree Program…

The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation has commissioned studies of state academic standards in five core subjects. This is the fourth of these studies, focusing on state standards for mathematics. For this evaluation of mathematics standards, researchers developed nine criteria under the four areas of: clarity, content, reason, and negative qualities.…

Five sets of activities for students are included in this document. Each is designed for use in junior high and secondary school mathematics instruction. The first two are concerned with the properties of polygons. The third involves statistical decision making using basketball statistics as examples. The fourth is related to the perimeter and…

This issue of Mathematics Education Dialogues focuses on the nature and the role of algebra in the K-14 curriculum. Articles on this theme include: (1) "Algebra For All? Why?" (Nel Noddings); (2) "Algebra For All: It's a Matter of Equity, Expectations, and Effectiveness" (Dorothy S. Strong and Nell B. Cobb); (3) "Don't Delay: Build and Talk about…