Presents 2 teaching ideas: (1) incorporating art, poetry, and geometry in class projects, and (2) showing alternative ways to introduce the statement, "If the product of two numbers is zero...," particularly by changing the word "zero" to "10" in the statement. (MKR)

Presented are two reasons discouraging computer symbol manipulation systems use in school mathematics at present: cost for computer laboratories or expensive pocket computers; and impracticality of exact solution representations. Although development with this technology in mathematics education advances, graphing calculators are recommended to…

Utilizes LOGO to teach the concept of inequalities by programing the turtle to take random walks in the coordinate plane restricted to predetermined regions defined by inequalities. The students task is to discover the inequalities that define the illegal areas into which the turtle must not move. Provides examples and corresponding computer…

Describes study of university students that investigated the effects of two direct instruction techniques in a computer-based algebra lesson: the cognitive routine (CR) and the Corrective Feedback Paradigm (CFP). Research design is explained, results are analyzed, and further research is suggested. (nine references) (LRW)

Described is a study that used LOGO to improve the proportional reasoning ability of students enrolled in mathematics classes for students poorly prepared for college-level mathematics. Included are the methodology, procedures for using logo, and a discussion of the results. (KR)

Instructional strategies are presented that illustrate ways of developing students' understanding of nonnumerical notation that are compatible with a constructivist stance. The concepts of using letters to represent a range of values and those used to represent unknowns are discussed. (KR)

Presents activities which use graphing calculators to explore parametric equations of spirals, circles, and polygons. (MKR)

Explored the variables that affect enrollment in eighth-grade algebra for African-American students. Studied constructs that fell into three broad categories: individual characteristics, home/parent variables, and school-related variables. Assessed data from the base-year student and parent data files of the National Education Longitudinal Study…

Excerpts a student-teacher discourse from a 4th-grade mathematics classroom to illustrate how discourse helps students construct algebraic thinking. Discusses the implications of the discourse method of collaborative inquiry for teaching. (JPB)

This article describes a mathematical model that connects mathematics with social studies. Students use mathematics to model independent versus convoyed ship deployments and sinkings to determine if the British should have convoyed their merchant ships during World War I. During the war, the British admiralty opposed sending merchant ships grouped…

There has been much debate in recent years as to the amount and type of mathematical knowledge that teachers need to acquire. One set of recommendations is provided by the Mathematical Education of Teachers (MET) report, produced jointly by the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. This paper reports on efforts…

Helping teachers envision how math standards can be integrated into the secondary classroom, this book presents engaging activities and ready-to-use lessons aligned with NCTM content and process standards. This user-friendly book by mathematics educator Timothy J. McNamara is filled with a generous collection of lessons for each of the ten NCTM…

This study investigates middle school mathematics students' views and interpretations of graphical representations as they use graphs to answer algebraic questions--specifically, questions that require them to extrapolate information from graphs. From data gathered in videotaped interviews, students' verbal responses were analyzed as well as any…

This study reports on the algebraic generalisation strategies used by two fifth grade students along with the factors that appeared to influence these strategies. These students were examined over 18 instructional sessions using a teaching experiment methodology. The results highlighted the complex factors that appeared to influence student…

More than a decade has passed since Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991) were published, and the question of whether students' learning of mathematics has improved during that time has frequently been asked. Scores on the mathematics assessment of the…