This study involved 48 students ages 9 to 12. The 29 experimental group students, divided into small groups, performed learning exercises designed to improve skills in analyzing and processing expressions frequently included in addition and multiplication problems. The exercises helped significantly to improve problem-solving performance. (MNS)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the constant time delay procedure, while comparing the efficiency of using teacher-selected and student-selected material prompts, in teaching multiplication facts to 4 male students with learning disabilities (ages 9 to 13). Results indicated that the time delay procedure was most efficient when students…

This study demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of a constant time delay procedure (four seconds) to teach five elementary students with learning disabilities multiplication facts. Learning generalized to a paper-and-pencil task, to a different presentation orientation, and to reverse facts. (DB)

Numerous studies indicate that performance in solving single step multiplicative word problems is influenced by both problem structure and the types of numbers involved in the problem. For example, including numbers less than one often increases the difficulty of a problem. What remains unclear is how problem structure and number type interact in…

This study compared the effects of two cover, copy, and compare interventions on the written multiplication performance of two elementary school students with behavioral disorders. The verbal response condition resulted in greater increases in written multiplication performance and occasioned more than twice the number of opportunities to respond…

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement for the operations of multiplication and division on whole numbers of elementary grade students who were taught functional diagnostic strategies with a randomly selected group who were not taught the informal diagnostic strategies. Included are the methodology, results, and discussion. (KR)

This paper offers a framework for examining the role of subject matter knowledge in the teaching of mathematics. Starting with a brief review of the history of efforts to investigate the role of subject matter knowledge, the paper continues with an in-depth look at what "subject matter knowledge of mathematics" might mean. An approach to…

This study focused on the way mathematics was taught in selected primary school classrooms. The study involved the observation of 21 fourth-grade classes in eight schools over a two-week period. Results indicated a hiatus between what was taught and what should be taught and between how mathematics is taught and how it should be taught.…

Discussed are preservice elementary teachers' misconceptions and inconsistent beliefs about multiplication and division with decimals. Sources of inconsistencies and recommendations for overcoming inconsistencies are included. (KR)

Three experiments compared the effects of interspersal drill and practice using 30% new items/70% review items with 100% new items, with a total of 17 students (ages 9 to 17) having behavior disorders, emotional handicaps, learning disabilities, or mild mental retardation. The ratios were compared for instruction in spelling, multiplication facts,…

An editorial comment on the computer and the mathematics educator is included first. Then, abstracts and comments are presented for 11 articles. Studies included focus on mental addition, problem solving by sixth graders, mathematics anxiety, tutoring, direct instruction, a bilingual program, thinking strategies for multiplication basic facts,…

This issue of the journal contains abstracts and critical comments for ten published reports of research in mathematics education. The reports concern teaching probability and estimation of measurements through microcomputer games, mental addition, use of calculators at the intermediate level, logical reasoning hierarchies, two approaches to the…

An editorial and abstracts for 12 research reports are contained in this issue. The editorial by Robert E. Reys focuses on the dangers of publishing poor research. The abstracts, each with a critique, concern research on a game for logical reasoning, wait-time and sex differences, vocabulary instruction on ratio and proportion, male-female…

The purpose of this practicum was to increase motivation and self-confidence of grade four students in mathematics achievement. Measured were the increase in the number of students displaying mastery of the times-tables, increase in the number of students making a gain on a math post-test, and increase in the number of students liking mathematics.…