This report summarizes the mathematical and pedagogical content of the 230 programs in the SQUARE ONE TV library after five seasons of production, relating that content to the three goals of the series: (1) to promote positive attitudes toward, and enthusiasm for, mathematics; (2) to encourage the use and application of problem-solving processes;…

Eleven experts in mathematics education, special education, and assessment completed an open-ended survey on current math instruction in relation to the "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the perceived appropriateness and feasibility of the standards for students with…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various academic subjects. The 1996 NAEP in mathematics assessed the current level of mathematical achievement as a mechanism for informing education reform. In 1996, 44…

The focus of this report is children's construction and analogical transfer of mathematical knowledge during novel problem solving, as reflected in their strategies for dealing with isomorphic combinatorial problems presented in "hands-on" and written form. Case studies of 9-year-olds, one low and one high achieving in school…

A unit of study that introduces measuring as a way of collecting data is presented. Suitable for students in grades 3 and 4, it provides a foundation for further work in statistics and data analysis. The investigations may extend from one to four class sessions and are grouped into three parts: "Introduction to Measurement"; "Using Standard…

The seven units developed for the Math Network Curriculum Project (MNCP) incorporate an active approach to the study of mathematics using microcomputers. The intent is to have students explore new concepts by experimenting with different situations. Most teachers of mathematics have not learned mathematics in an active way, and thus need to…

This unit is 1 of 12 developed for the university classroom portion of the Mathematics-Methods Program (MMP), created by the Indiana University Mathematics Education Development Center (MEDC) as an innovative program for the mathematics training of prospective elementary school teachers (PSTs). Each unit is written in an activity format that…

This unit is 1 of 12 developed for the university classroom portion of the Mathematics-Methods Program (MMP), created by the Indiana University Mathematics Education Development Center (MEDC) as an innovative program for the mathematics training of prospective elementary school teachers (PSTs). Each unit is written in an activity format that…

This National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Yearbook shows how NCTM's recommendations for improving mathematics education--contained in the booklet, An Agenda for Action--are being implemented in schools. The 27 articles are grouped under 8 headings, corresponding to the 8 recommendations in the Agenda. The articles apply to all levels…

Investigated home-school alignment for primary grade mathematics reform. Three studies found that parents endorsed many reform classroom practices; in a comparison of word-problem scaffolding, parents gave more direct forms of assistance than did teachers; a pilot program to inform parents was effective--children whose parents participated scored…

Presents an introductory lesson on remote sensing and image processing to be used in cooperative groups. Students are asked to solve a problem by gathering information, making inferences, transforming data into other forms, and making and testing hypotheses. Includes four expansions of the lesson and a reproducible student worksheet. (MKR)

In 1987, Toronto Board of Education mandated the development of standards, called "benchmarks," for students' achievement in mathematics and language at the end of grades 3, 6, 8, and 10. The development and testing of benchmarks stressing higher-order thinking, problem solving, and the use of experiential approaches and manipulative…

Presents the teaching strategy of having first grade students write their own word problems. Suggests the use of calculators to permit students to create problems with larger, more realistic numbers. Gives examples of student-generated problems and discusses students' attempts to solve the problems. (MDH)

Results in 487 reports were integrated by meta-analysis to study characteristics of problem solvers, conditions for harder and easier problems, effects of different instructional methods on problem-solving performance, and effects of classroom-related conditions on problem-solving performance. Problem solving related positively to measures of…

Describes five skills underpinning the understanding of geometry for primary and lower secondary mathematics students. Skill categories identified include (1) visual; (2) verbal; (3) drawing; (4) logical; and (5) application. Gives examples of skills appropriate for Van Hiele levels 1-3. (MDH)