Statistics standards found in the Common Core (CCSSI 2010) and other state standards require considerable instructional time and focus for students to develop the depth and breadth of understanding necessary. In this article, the authors offer an approach to teaching a statistics unit that combines student choice with authentic and sustained…

A recent trend in school mathematics has been to launch student inquiry with real-world contexts that capture student interest and intrigue (Meyer 2011, 2012; Kane 2015). Often these starting points harness the immediacy and power of the Internet to provide strong visuals and timely relevance. The goal of the resulting student inquiry is to foster…

This article describes two different projects using the stock market as a context for learning. For both projects, students "bought" shares in individual companies, tracked stock prices for a period of time, and then "sold" their shares at a gain or loss. The projects are adaptable for students in late elementary school through…

An important question for mathematics teachers is this: "How can we help students learn mathematics to solve everyday problems, rather than teaching them only to memorize rules and practice mathematical procedures?" Teaching students using modeling activities can help them learn mathematics in real-world problem-solving situations that…

By 2020, five of the top ten in-demand jobs in the United States will be in information technology (Moeller 2012). Companies across the nation are seeking a new type of employee: one who is computer savvy and who is familiar with computer coding, data, mathematics, and augmented reality (Leber 2013). Recent reports indicate that, although students…

This article describes an action research project in which a sixth-grade teacher engaged students in writing about their problem-solving efforts. The written mathematical work provided new artifacts for examining students' metacognitive and mathematical communication skills, prompting the teacher to make instructional changes to address students'…

The increase in the diversity of students and the complexity of their needs can be a rich addition to a mathematics classroom. The challenge for teachers is to find a way to include students' interests and creativity in a way that allows for rigorous mathematics. One method of incorporating the diversity is the development of "open-ended…

Statistics is the art and science of gathering, analyzing, and making conclusions from data. However, many people do not fully understand how to interpret statistical results and conclusions. Placing students in a collaborative environment involving project-based learning may enable them to overcome misconceptions of probability and enhance the…

Getting and keeping the attention of an eight-grade algebra class can often be a challenge. Doing so while trying to meet curriculum expectations and standards can be a daunting task unless projects are designed to both pique and maintain student curiosity. Projects designed around standards that initiate interest and have multiple entry points…

Describes how the student community can provide the context for integrating subjects and assessing student knowledge about data collection and analysis. Discusses the change of a teacher's practice through her reflections upon student learning and reform documents. (YDS)

This article describes activities that promote students' understanding of equation solving through analyzing and correcting student work. (Contains 5 figures.)

Presents a student-posed project in which students devise mathematics investigations around their school cafeteria. Discusses learning-related outcomes of the project. (ASK)

Describes a journal-writing project involving the best route to travel from one place to another and presents some student responses. (MKR)

Describes an engaging project in which students have to design and construct a three-dimensional candy box that would appeal to children. Requires students to make the box out of prisms, pyramids, or cylinders, determine the surface area and volume of the solids, and write a persuasive business letter. (YDS)

This article describes a project done in middle school mathematics classes that addresses the learners' diversity and acknowledges their heritage, multiple abilities, and learning styles. The project, with the use of cultural artifacts and creative stories, enables one to teach and assess mathematics in an imaginative and creative way that both…