Students explore the Pythagorean theorem and an extension using jelly beans to measure areas. Deductive thinking and algebraic notation help establish connections. (Contains 8 figures.)

Using sticky notes and number lines, a hands-on activity is shared that anchors initial student thinking about absolute value. The initial point of reference should help students successfully evaluate numeric problems involving absolute value. They should also be able to solve absolute value equations and inequalities that are typically found in…

A focus on mathematics vocabulary must be part of teachers' instructional plans to develop students' understanding of key ideas. The author presents examples from work with preservice teachers regarding two vocabulary strategies and other related activities that can be used by middle and high school mathematics teachers. (Contains 8 figures.)

This article addresses the issues of coaching and assessing. A preservice middle school teacher's unique solution to the Pizza problem was not what the professor expected. The student's solution strategy, based on sequences and a reinvention of Pascal's triangle, is explained in detail. (Contains 8 figures.)

Mathematics teachers can tap into students' curiosity about hurricanes to develop their understanding of mathematical ideas within a real-life context. This article discusses hurricane-based mathematics tasks involving cooperative learning that were found to help students enhance their understanding of patterns, graphs, and rates of change. For…

The author was asked to develop a list of actions that teachers could take to build students' mathematics abilities. Too many students fail to graduate and fail to pass state assessments as a result of weak mathematics skills. Even many students who do graduate leave high school lacking sufficient understanding of mathematics to pass college…

What do experienced teachers have to say about integrating modern educational games into their classroom? This paper addresses this question by exploring the discourse of teachers who were provided professional development, technical support, access to a modern educational game, and flexibility in deciding how to integrate the game in their…

Principals are very aware that there is a great deal of competition in attracting qualified teachers of mathematics to their school, since there are just not enough qualified mathematics teachers out there. Recent studies of the qualifications of teachers in Australian schools have confirmed that there is a crisis in the supply of qualified…

This article presents the basic ideas of statistical trend charts and their utility as a pedagogical tool for sparking statistical thinking. (Contains 7 tables and 11 figures.)

This paper explores the development of the method of partial fraction decomposition from elementary number theory through calculus to its abstraction in modern algebra. This unusual perspective makes the topic accessible and relevant to readers from high school through seasoned calculus instructors.

This article looks at the question of whether and how a geometrical cube may be determined as the solution set of a single equation. Beyond this being an interesting and surprising result for upper high school and first year college students, we argue that, as an investigative activity, it has value in refining students' images of what solutions…

This textbook is based on the idea that there should be an intermediate high school course that will sum up the arithmetic of the grades, and give some insight into the coming mathematical problems of algebra and geometry, especially if this course is linked up with work in mechanical drawing, manual training and elementary surveying. Such a…