Urges that the search for origins of European exploration extend to Africa and East Asia and their international trade. Cites contributions of India and the Arabs, Chinese, and Malaysians. Emphasizes the importance of mathematics, navigation, and sailing technology. Argues that without these contributions the European voyages would not have been…

Describes the Quipu, a mathematical device invented by the Incas of Peru that used the base-10 number system to store information. Suggests ways of incorporating material on the quipu into the arithmetic class. (MDH)

Presents the computer microworlds developed by the Children's Construction of Rational Numbers of Arithmetic (Fractions) Project. Provides an overview of three microworlds: Toys; Sticks; and Candybars. Discusses how children are expected to use the microworlds to construct an understanding of rational numbers. (MDH)

Discusses how students at the end of the French primary school-cycle (10- to 11-year-old pupils) resolve multiplication and related division problems within an assessment perspective taking into account the 3 factors of the problem's representational structure, the numerical values used, and the context of the problem statement. (25 references)…

A 7-month longitudinal study of 20 2- and 3-year-old children shows that children at an early age already know that counting words each refer to a distinct numerosity, although they do not know to which numerosity. It takes children a long time to learn the latter. (SLD)

Discusses opportunities to use nursery rhymes to aid in the mathematical development of young children. Considers rhymes that involve patterns, ordering, and problem solving. (MKR)

Stresses recognition and application of the identity property of 1 across the mathematics curriculum to help students overcome difficulties. (MKR)

This experimental study compared the use of Belcastro rods with the use of traditional methods in teaching addition and subtraction of whole numbers to five blind students. Results showed a significant difference favoring the use of Belcastro rods. (Contains 30 references.) (MKR)

Explores algebraic thinking as children search for patterns while collecting, organizing, and graphing data and as they derive equations describing relationships found in the data. (ASK)

Presents a unit for fourth and fifth grades on fractions and mixed numbers in which students have to decrease and increase the number of servings of different recipes. Describes students' strategies for multiplying fractions, and discusses how the use of a ratio table facilitated their thinking. (ASK)

Recommends conducting interviews with students in order to grasp their understanding of fractions and provides interview questions. Presents results of a study using those interview questions and concludes student responses fell into three main categories: (1) described a mental image of an object; (2) drew a model of the fraction using a circle…

Suggests ways that schools and parents of young children with hearing impairments can work together to build math skills. Ideas for early math experiences that can be naturally included in everyday routines are presented in descriptions of five learning centers, focusing on logic and problem solving, time and money, fractions, conservation of…

Argues that basic components of discrete mathematics can be introduced to students through gradual elaboration of experiences with iconic spreadsheet-based simulations of concrete materials. Suggests that the study of homogeneous and heterogeneous patterns of manipulative spreadsheet templates allows for appreciation of the development of…

Provides information on the number sense of Taiwanese students in grades six and eight. Indicates that student performance on questions requiring written computation was significantly better than on similar questions relying on number sense. Supports the need to look beyond correct answers when computational test results are reported. Contains 29…

Presents a brief definition and examples of residue designs while sharing some of the algebraic thought that a student used to form generalizations about the patterns discovered during the investigations of residue designs. (ASK)