Reviews an alternative patterning approach and highlights the difficulties it can present when students lack the requisite skills and knowledge of processes. Describes how this approach can be used to introduce elementary algebraic ideas and offers recommendations for establishing these important understandings. (ASK)

Presents an algebra project in which students build a dance club. Reveals how this project motivates students and makes algebra more accessible, dynamic, and relevant to their society. (ASK)

Presents a problem for students in grades 4-6 on Venn diagrams with or without manipulatives. Lists questions for teachers to reflect upon during the problem-solving process concerning student understanding of problems, problem-solving strategies, assessment, and reasoning skills. (ASK)

Presents a problem on Pythagorean triples and patterns to generate sets of triples. (ASK)

Presents an exercise that introduces students to scientific measurements using only metric units. At the conclusion of the exercise, students eat the experiment. Requires dried refried beans, crackers or chips, and dried instant powder for lemonade. (DDR)

Describes a spreadsheet model for approximating square roots then extends that model into the intriguing domain of chaos. Focuses on the use of a dynamic model to promote habits of mathematical reasoning, conjecturing, and graphing analysis that support mathematics learning across grade levels. (ASK)

Describes two activities that involve thinking of slope as rate of change. Uses a calculator-based laboratory, graphing calculator, appropriate probes, and web sites to make the concepts of slope and y-intercept come alive for middle grade students. (ASK)

Investigated the potentialities of teaching the concept of measuring surfaces to primary school children. Children tested in covering the surface of an object using socially significant materials (e.g., cardboard rectangles vs. car pictures and a drawing of a parking lot) were found to complete the task at ages younger than expected. (JPB)

Presents ways of connecting mathematics to students' lives. Provides information on CamMotion, software that uses video and computer technologies to bring mathematics and students together in innovative ways. (ASK)

Suggests an elementary school activity and questions to promote five types of mathematical thinking including modeling, logical analysis, inference, optimization, and abstraction. Discusses evaluating activities for mathematical reasoning opportunities. (ASK)

Introduces the whole number machine and describes its use as an odometer in an addition game. Presents an activity in which students learn mathematics while they fly across the globe. (Contains 12 references.) (ASK)

Describes an investigation that leads to one of the significant contributions that sabermetrics--new approaches to gaining information about baseball from its numerical records--has made to our understanding of baseball. (ASK)

Identifies characteristics of mathematically rich, equitable game software for middle school students. Introduces and compares two games called Math Blaster and Logical Journey of the Zoombinis. Contains 15 references. (ASK)

Presents four lessons on tessellations which create environments for children to engage in exploration and working mathematically. (ASK)

Presents the idea of a mathematics workshop that teaches techniques that employs student choice, use of manipulatives, and student self-reflection. Shares the research base underlying mathematics workshops and describes how to conduct one. Illustrates three parts of the mathematics workshop: the minilesson, the activity period, and reflection…