Historical issues concerning the role of mathematics in the school curriculum are considered, with numerous examples illustrating varying emphases. (MNS)

The author uses a format in developmental mathematics courses that stresses (1) developing a positive attitude toward mathematics; (2) encouraging activeness on the part of the students; and (3) providing survival skills for nondevelopmental courses that encourage the practice of problem solving and analytical skills. Each of these areas is…

How min-max problems can be solved with trigonometry and without calculus is described. (MNS)

A college-level intermediate algebra course with an applications theme is described. (MK)

Proposes that the writing of proofs in geometry class can be a vehicle for attaining the goals of problem solving, reasoning, and communication in the mathematics classroom. Presents a student-teacher dialogue illustrating this process. (11 references) (MKR)

Presents the general postage-stamp problem on Diophantine equations. Discusses ways to uncover all solutions to the problem. (ASK)

Presents responses to a division problem appearing in the September, 1998 "problem solvers" section of this journal. (ASK)

Examines ways in which teachers can develop children's abilities to mathematize their world by articulating mathematical problems in situations, then solving and discussing their solutions. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

This paper deals with a teaching approach aimed to help students become aware of targeted techniques of significance in problem solving. The teaching approach is to present a series of tasks that all can be solved by applying the same technique. Two levels of prompting are used; first for the students to realize solutions without necessarily being…

This paper reviews the presentation of problem solving and process aspects of mathematics in curriculum documents from Australia, UK, USA and Singapore. The place of problem solving in the documents is reviewed and contrasted, and illustrative problems from teachers' support materials are used to demonstrate how problem solving is now more often…

This article describes a problem-centered curriculum for grades 9-12, using problem sets developed by a mathematics department and designed to take the place of textbooks. The students discover mathematical concepts in the context of the problems and activities in the materials.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the Sharpening Math Skills Lab technology-mediated mathematics instructional practices for math-delayed middle school students have positive effects on their mathematics achievement and spatial visualization ability and to gauge student engagement in learning, implementation of the principles of…

This study explored support for engagement in 2 settings: a high school basketball team and high school mathematics classrooms. Specifically, the study examined 3 aspects of these practices: (a) access to the domain, (b) opportunities to take on integral roles, and (c) opportunities for self-expression in the practice. Drawing on videotape and…

The number of students pursuing undergraduate degrees in mathematics is decreasing. Research reveals students who pursue mathematics majors complained about inadequate high school preparation in terms of disciplinary content or depth, conceptual grasp, or study skills. Unfortunately, the decrease in the number of students studying advanced…

Teachers are often unaware that bilingual students often switch between their languages when doing mathematics. Little research has been undertaken into this phenomenon. Results are reported here from a study of language switching by sixteen Year 4/5 Iranian bilingual students as they solved mathematical problems in an interview situation. Reasons…