Discusses a course which combines Assessment, Investigation, and Mathematical Skills (A.I.M.S.) to originate, arouse, and sustain student interest in mathematics by changing to a more group-centered, democratic style of classroom management and by shifting toward more self-evaluation on the part of the students. (MKR)

Presents classroom ideas focusing on connections among mathematics, concern for the environment, and conservation of natural resources, including decomposition, water conservation, packaging materials, use of manufactured cans, and recycling. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Presents a civic mathematics curriculum that encompasses issues of race and gender, poverty and wealth, the environment, and concerns of teenagers. Includes lists of mathematics skills and aspects of the issues and a sample lesson on water resources. Quarterly projects are suggested as an alternative to exams. (MKR)

Described is a solution to the problem and a discussion of a computer estimation of the probability. A computer program written in Turbo Pascal and two sample runs are provided. Computations for a more general problem of this nature and changes in the program necessary for use with Apple Pascal are appended. (CW)

The three middle school games described in this article focus on problem solving and mathematical reasoning skills. Included are Solomon's game, nine mens' morris, and nim-with-cards which all offer not only high student interest and strong mathematical value but also simple rules, ease of construction, and attractiveness for repeated play.…

In the first part, both the rationale and the policies for allowing students to use notes during tests in an advanced class are presented. The second part contains suggestions for color-coding a grade book thus promoting efficient information retrieval and easier analyses of students' progress and/or grades. (JJK)

Following a short introduction on the rationale and purpose for using algorithmic structures in the teaching of algebra, two topics from elementary algebra are presented in relation to control structures from computer programing, specifically: the multiplication of polynomials defined in terms of nested loops, and the distributive property…

Presented are two ideas to improve instruction. The first celebrates the Christmas birthday of Isaac Newton with an essay assignment related to Newton and a party. The second suggests a more appropriate moment to introduce the technique of completing the square to promote greater flexibility in factoring problems. (MDH)

Probability theory can be developed from a theoretical or experimental probability approach. The problem, "The Gambler's Ruin," is used to study whether students are naturally sensitive to learning probability from an experimental probability approach through simulations. Results indicated that use of simulations can contribute to…

The LOGO subroutine turtle geometry and Euclidean geometry are compared with respect to their treatment of similarity and difference of plane figures. The problem and its proposed solution of introducing a FLIP operation are viewed briefly from the perspectives of mathematics, computer science, and education. (MDH)

Presented are two activities that provide opportunity to review topics while integrating interests and developmental levels of middle and high school students. The first describes a take-off of the MTV game "Remote Control." The second, a problem-solving activity, organizes student movement from desk to desk, with students solving…

Counterintuitive moments in the classroom challenge common sense and practice and can be used to help mathematics students appreciate the need to explore, reflect, and reason. Proposed are four examples involving geometry, systems of equations, and matrices as counterintuitive instances. (MDH)

The first idea concerns a board game similar to tic-tac-toe in which the strategy involves the knowledge of the factorization of quadratic polynomials. The second game uses the calculation of the surface areas of solid figures applying the specific examples of cigar boxes and cylindrical tin cans. (JJK)

Described are the inexpensive construction and the suggested classroom applications of three different demonstration devices, as alternatives to the use of computer graphics, for displaying the conic sections. These devices are the simplified string model, the stroboscopic cone generator, and the capillary hyperbola. (JJK)

Identified is research related to concept formation; the chronology of identity and equivalence conservations; the relationship of mental age to performance on number concept tasks; perceptual, attentional, linguistic, and social factors; and the potential use of cognitive developmental criteria as measures of ability for both normal and retarded…