How does improving children's ability to label set sizes without counting affect the development of understanding of the cardinality principle? It may accelerate development by facilitating subsequent alignment and comparison of the cardinal label for a given set and the last word counted when counting that set (Mix et al., 2012). Alternatively,…

Mathematics education researchers have long pursued--and many still pursue--an ideal instructional model for operations on integers. In this chapter, I argue that such a pursuit may be futile. Additionally, I highlight that ideas of relativity have been overlooked; and, I contend that current uses of translation within current integer…

This paper discusses the design modifications of a sequence of specified learning goals for teaching early number, which characterise an instructional resource developed in a design research collaboration with teachers in Mexican preschools. Highlighted are the types of research involvement that appear to be necessary in designing resources for…

The present study aimed to examine the opinions of in-and preservice middle school mathematics teachers about teaching four operations with integers through "number line" and/or "counters". Participants were 42 middle school mathematics teachers and 51 pre-service mathematics teachers. The data were collected through open-ended…

In this paper, differences in the implementation of a number activity called the snake game are studied. Nine Swedish preschool teachers worked in collaboration with a research team, enacting the same activity with their groups of 5-year-old children over a 3-month period. Variation theory forms the basis for the analysis of 67 videorecorded…

The current study assessed whether adding worked examples with self-explanation prompts focused on making connections between mathematical principles, procedures, and concepts of rational numbers to a curriculum focused on invented strategies improves pre-algebra students' fraction number line acuity, rational number concepts and procedures.…

A problem sequence is presented developing the basic properties of the set of natural numbers (including associativity and commutativity of addition and multiplication, among others) from the Peano axioms, with the last portion using von Neumann's construction to provide a model satisfying these axioms. This sequence is appropriate for…

This article describes some of the essential mathematics that underpins the use of algorithms through a series of learning pathways. To begin, a graphic depicting the mathematical ideas and concepts that underpin the learning of algorithms for multiplication and division is provided. The understanding and use of algorithms is informed by two…

These four chapters describe studies of using models for integer addition and subtraction. The models draw principally on the two grounding metaphors of object collection and motion along a path. A strength of all chapters is detailed analysis of how the models are and can be implemented and how they influence student's learning. Together the…

This theoretical reflection implies the main proposal that the activities of planning and teaching are linked; it is the main ingredient to cognition and metacognition. Two main parts make up this article: a theoretical discussion of the linkage, detailing a descriptive letter and content to be taught in the classroom. Within this part, a…

In this paper, we present parts of an online qualitative research project which lasted a whole semester about the understanding of real numbers by sixty first-year Greek mathematics undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on the distinction between rational and irrational numbers and their location on the number line using…

A strong foundation in early number concepts is crucial for students' future success in statistics. Despite its importance in statistics, many first-year students struggle to comprehend the normal distribution due to a lack of basic number sense. Students get confused about the order and magnitude of negative z-scores on a standard normal curve or…

When asked to explain their solutions to a problem, children often gesture and, at times, these gestures convey information that is different from the information conveyed in speech. Children who produce these gesture-speech "mismatches" on a particular task have been found to profit from instruction on that task. We have recently found…

Number naming, or knowledge of math numerals, has been described as a gatekeeper skill in preschool math development because it is necessary for later math tasks such as calculation. This article describes a small group intervention piloted with 10 preschoolers found to be at risk for delays in early numeracy development during universal…

This practical book draws on Ronit Bird's teaching experience to create detailed strategies and teaching plans for students aged 9-16 who have difficulties with number. Activities and games are used to teach numeracy skills in these key areas: number components, bridging, multiplication, division and reasoning strategies. New to this edition: (1)…