Describes typical student strategies for counting cubes in cube buildings and explains why these problems are difficult for students. Suggests instructional tasks that can help students develop more powerful ways of thinking about such problems. Lists two action research ideas related to this issue. (ASK)

This cross-curricular primary unit helps teachers and students get to know one another. Students collect information about their families, then create bulletin boards, class albums, graphs, and art projects. One activity is for students to invite their families into the classroom to share their projects and feast on traditional family foods. (SM)

Describes new practices in preservice mathematics education at Russia State Pedagogical University. The program offers mathematics teachers a deeper understanding of the mathematics of school curricula and how it fits within the mathematics discipline. It teaches them alternative instructional strategies beyond mere lecture so they can meet…

Examined how elementary school administrators' and curriculum coordinators' views of subject matter related to their leadership strategies. Found that relative to reading, leaders' agendas for improving literacy instruction focused on teachers' input and applying literacy skills to several academic subjects. Strategies for improving math…

Described is how using LOGO tools for manipulating embodiments of geometric objects helps students construct more abstract and coherent concepts. Discussions are included on developing verbal definitions versus constructing concepts, tasks for integrating turns and angles, group discussions, and maze tasks. (KR)

Discussed is the study of mathematics as a cultural product. The Perimeter-and-Area Project and the Graph-Theory Project are described as well as the affective outcomes of both projects. The importance of broadening the mathematics curriculum multiculturally is discussed. (KR)

Discussed are reasons why games should be included in the mathematics curriculum at all levels. Presented are arguments for this position and ways of enhancing the use of games in the learning of mathematics. Included are a definition of a mathematical game and types of mathematical games. (KR)

The methodology associated with the California Study of Elementary Mathematics is examined. The article includes an overview of state policy and a description of participants and data collection procedures at the state, school district, school, and classroom levels, including methods used to collect data for development of case studies. (TJH)

Reported are community perceptions of school mathematics with respect to four areas of content, individual values, attitudinal aspects, and folklore. The results are discussed in relation to their implications for the effective implementation of recommendations for changes in mathematics education. (Author/CW)

Described is an areawide event presented annually to encourage positive attitudes about mathematics. Discussed are presentations, ongoing activities, evaluation, and planning associated with the event. Over 125 references are listed. A list of sources of supplies is included. (CW)

Proposed is a way for teachers to distinguish between rich, challenging material that encourages mathematical thinking and material that is unsuitable. Included are multistep problems that encourage a broader understanding of mathematics. (KR)

Described are four classroom activities that may be interspersed into a curriculum or offered as homework. Systematic procedures, alternative strategies, and trial and error are emphasized in these counting exercises. (KR)

Results are presented from two intervention studies which investigate whether encouraging elementary students to generate drawings of arithmetic word problems facilitates problem-solving performance. Findings indicate that fifth graders (N=50) generated many drawings of word problems and improved problem solutions after the intervention, whereas…

Outlines the development of a lesson structured around four stages of problem-solving. Provides five problems and questions for understanding, getting started, and for extension in each of the problems. (YP)

Discusses the use of computer spreadsheets to prepare questions from a problem. Presents three sample problems, templates, and questions. Provides a list of available spreadsheet programs. Lists five references. (YP)