This qualitative case study aims to address the ways that pre-service mathematics teachers (PSTs) used a rope in a daylong research meeting for cognitive development of children's understanding of counting numbers in Tanzanian elementary schools. Three university mathematics pre-service teachers volunteered participating in this study. Collective…

Young children must develop basic concepts of numeracy--one being that numbers have magnitudes that increase linearly--before they are able to succeed in mathematics. Children from low-income families have been found to be at a greater disadvantage in the development of numeracy, but this disadvantage can be overcome through the use of a simple…

Research Findings: A total of 72 Head Start children (M age = 53.26 months, SD = 5.07) were randomly assigned to 4 conditions. Some were taught the oddity principle (choosing the object that differs from others in a group) and seriation (ordering objects on a dimension and inserting new objects into such orders), which are forms of thinking that…

We investigated the relation between children's numerical-magnitude representations and their memory for numbers. Results of three experiments indicated that the more linear children's magnitude representations were, the more closely their memory of the numbers approximated the numbers presented. This relation was present for preschoolers and…

This book includes two main sections: a discussion of problem solving and a section on computation with whole numbers. A primary theme of the text is that problem solving sets the stage for meaning and conceptual development with respect to numbers. The section on problem solving includes numerous problem-solving activities that have a dual…

The author argues on theoretical grounds that not all "logical" pre-number activities are equally relevant for numeracy, and concludes with a practical suggestion for the kind of activity which does have particular relevance. (MN)

For mathematics teachers who are continually looking for ways in which to engage their students in the learning process, the capabilities offered by technology answer the call. Whether the technology comprises computer based applications or graphics calculators, often boring aspects can be bypassed so that students can work on the "good…

Field experience during teacher preparation enables the prospective teacher to observe children as they develop -- emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically. Children, at different stages of development, exhibit characteristics of behavior which may or may not affect how and what they learn in the formal classroom environment. Thus,…

This paper reports on a study of nursery children's responses to number focused activities. Responses were analysed in terms of cognitive, physical, emotional and social aspects in order to gain insights into what engaged children in number learning opportunities. "Cognitive-emotional hooks" for number activities were identified, involving…

Fourth grade children (n=20) were matched on a pretest and randomly assigned to either a wooden base-10 block or computerized microworld group. Instruction was designed to establish relationships between notation and meaning, extending whole number numeration to decimal numeration. Neither group changed whole-number notational methods nor had…

Activities used in a British infant school are described, as well as methods for teaching mathematics to young children. The influence of the Nuffield Project on mathematics instruction is also discussed. (JP)

This guide describes 47 number and numeration learning activities that can be used with elementary school students. These activities have been developed using the mathematics laboratory approach. This publication is designed to serve as a stimulant to encourage teachers to open their minds and employ their imagination in developing further…

Describes a method of teaching the order of mathematical operations based upon the psychological theory of conceptual generalization. (MDH)

Discusses convergence between instructional practices suggested by research on achievement motivation and practices promoted in mathematics-instruction reform literature by focusing on fourth- through sixth-grade students (N=624) and their teachers (N=24). Concludes that the instructional practices suggested in the literature of both research…

In dynamical theory, mathematical understanding is considered to be that of a person (or group) of a topic (or problem) in a situation or setting. This paper compares the interactions between the situations and the mathematical understandings of two students by comparing the growth in understanding within a Fibonacci sequence setting in which…