Record-breaking snowfalls are the starting point of a presentation that delves into many aspects of probability and interesting and unusual aspects of viewing independent, random phenomena. (MP)

Effects of Advance Organizer (AO) lessons presenting high-order math concepts relating to set building, matching and between sets, and counting objects within sets were evaluated for rural preschoolers in comparison to traditional instruction. A pre-test/post-test assessment indicated a significant sequential transfer effect from the AO lessons.…

Mastery learning techniques were improved through mathematics instruction based on a validated learning hierarchy, presenting tasks in a sequence consistent with the requirements of the hierarchy, and requiring learners to demonstrate achievement before being allowed to proceed. (Author/GDC)

This article suggests: ways to teach algebraic properties; a way to prove the Pythagorean Theorem using transformational geometry; a method of packaging and carrying AC-powered calculators; and a method for teaching standard formulas. (MK)

Women tend to subscribe to a belief that they are less inclined than males to handle numbers, logic, or problem-solving tasks. Upward mobility in occupations is seen to be dependent on math. A list of math anxiety, math avoidance, and math reentry programs given around the country is provided. (MLW)

Results of this study suggest that exemplification and characterization moves can be taught to preservice teachers by the training procedures used in this study and that this training facilitated the acquisition of selected concepts by elementary students. (MK)

Part 2 considers the limit of a sequence and extends this to include ideas such as continuity, derivative, and integral. The discussion concludes with an example of a finite or "counted completely" set, the Fermat primes. (MK)

The implications of a few popular beliefs that teachers use to guide their mathematics instruction are examined and some useful alternatives to these beliefs discussed. (MP)

Specific strategies and examples for teaching mathematical computation skills are presented as samples of ways to teach starting with the concrete and ending with the abstract. (JMF)

Four studies tested the hypothesis that collection structures are easier than classes in numerical reasoning tasks. With perceptual input constant, the collection labels in contrast to the class labels promoted children's insight into certain numerical principles and facilitated the use of these principles in a variety of numerical tasks.…

Describes a six-month experimental library program carried out in Venezuela that sought to develop a home alternative to regular preschool education by providing parents and other adults in the family with the means of teaching children academic and problem-solving skills required by school. (Author/JD)

Patterns generated by the set of natural or counting numbers are discussed. Included are quartic, odd, square, and triangular numbers. (MK)

Preservice mathematics teachers at two points in a teacher education program (pre- and post-student teaching) were instructed on Henderson's model for teaching concepts. Each was then videotaped in two microteaching situations: no differences in the number or variety of moves used by members of the two groups were observed. (SD)

Presents some of the unique problems of figuring mathematics in a foreign tongue, and also considers the successes and failures at communication by teachers and students. (Author/AM)

Explored methods for helping students generate conceptual mathematical explanations during peer-mediated learning activities. Three groups (one with training in elaborated help, one with additional training in providing conceptual explanations, and one control) were compared after 18 weeks on mathematics achievement. Found that students with…