Through timely questioning, teachers can estimate a child's understanding of mathematical ideas. Hence, the type of question asked by the teacher must be connected to the student's present thinking about a solution. This paper illustrates and analyzes how timely questioning on the part of teachers helped third, fourth, and fifth grade students…

This document is a compilation of abstracts of 28 research papers presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The major portion of the reports concerned methods of instruction; nine were related to college mathematics, ten on secondary school mathematics, and two at the elementary school mathematics…

A study was conducted to characterize the problem-solving processes of individuals with high scholastic aptitudes and individuals with low scholastic aptitudes. From a group of 532 Chicago area high school juniors, a group who scored high on the Differential Aptitude Test and a group that scored low were selected. They were given nine problems to…

Discusses the benefits of discovery learning, as opposed to a direct, lecture method, and offers 10 discovery strategies, such as playing 20 questions, using the Socratic method, and problem solving. (JC)

Suggests that, although questions are often used to help students or stimulate student thinking, questions can also be used to help evaluate student thinking and attitudes about problem solving. Sample problems and questions are given. (PK)

An approach for classifying the cognitive levels of social studies teachers' verbalized and written questions is presented. The system can be used by teachers to plan discussions intended to involve students in higher level thinking. (RM)

Includes brief descriptions of laboratory products completed or under development. (RT)

Outlines benefits of and skills involved in problem solving. Details how an environment rich in materials that foster cause-and-effect or trial-and-error explorations promote cognitive development among toddlers. Offers examples of problem-solving experiences and lists materials for use in curriculum planning. Describes the teacher' role as one of…

Focuses on how student problem solving skills can be improved by teaching them a problem solving model. Includes a technique for developing student inquiry thinking using the game, Twenty Questions, or by examining conflicting statements. Includes the article, "Using Problem Solving Skills in a Fifth-Grade Classroom" (Alan Rock and Nicole…

The article discusses the classic problem: "Given an equilateral triangle and a point P inside the triangle, what is the sum of the distances from P to the three sides?" The problem is used to illustrate the generative nature of problem-posing using the heuristic "What happens if...?" (PK)

Describes the social studies curriculum at Oceanside School District in Long Island (New York) that focuses on the concept of essential questions. Explains that the teachers wanted the questions to reflect an awareness of current world problems that students could identify, discuss, and debate in a creative and age appropriate manner. (CMK)

Focuses on how conceptual themes can assist students in problem solving by acting as organizing elements and guides for thinking. States that students can learn how to use important ideas to drive key questions, discern the relationships among concepts that reflect the operation of principles, and visualize a problem to clarify essential issues.…

This paper raises issues motivated by considering the "identity" of problem solving. This means that we are concerned with how other mathematics education topics impinge on problem solving, and with themes that naturally arise within the problem-solving agenda. We claim that some of these issues need more attention by educational research, while…

From a science perspective, inquiry-oriented instruction engages students in the investigative nature of science. Inquiry involves activity and skills, but the focus is on the active search for knowledge or understanding to satisfy a curiosity. This digest further describes the distinguishing features of inquiry-oriented science instruction and…