From time to time, the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) mounts studies to investigate in depth and detail particular fields of interest in mathematics education. This paper is the Discussion Document of the forthcoming ICMI Study 16, "Challenging Mathematics in and beyond the Classroom."

This article presents several activities and teaching ideas shared by teachers. One teacher shared how an Egyptian mummy-making activity can be a great hands-on learning through time. Another teacher shared how a bowl filled with popcorn kernels has made it easy for her to get the attention of her students.

There is great variety in the numerous mathematical lesson ideas that can arise from browsing through the newspaper. Since they depict recent, topical material that is constantly changing, newspapers provide an endless supply of new ideas with each new day. In this article, the author provides numerous suggestions as to how the newspaper can be…

This article illustrates the author's discovery that the key to any successful dance unit is finding ways for students to make connections and want to dance. While reflecting on the purpose of dance in the curriculum, the author identified important skills and concepts he wanted his students to master, such as rhythm, balance, and…

Excerpted from Sarama and Clements's chapter in NAEYC's book K Today: Teaching and Learning in the Kindergarten Year, the authors explain that in response to the need for high-quality early childhood mathematics instruction, the field has developed research-based content standards identifying key concepts and skills children need to gain…

This article reports how students at Seattle's public Alternative School #1 carved a long lasting connection with the native Haida people of Alaska. These students created a 40-foot canoe with the guidance of Robert Peele, an artist and a descendant of Haida royalty, whose ancestors once carved a 63-foot canoe now on display at the American Museum…

In this article, the author discusses how children's book character Flat Stanley has linked students around the world and describes how teachers used the appealing character as a tool to bring reading, writing, geography, and other subjects to life through a classroom exercise. Often folded or laminated for protection and accompanied by…

As part of his Ph.D study in Brisbane, the author was observing one classroom where the teacher was enchanting as an educator, surrounded by excited, engaged, chattering children making dinosaurs. At another center, he felt dismayed as he observed an all too familiar table of organized collage and paints being prepared by staff. They were all…

New theory on adaptive teaching reflects the social dynamics of classrooms to explain what practicing teachers do to address student differences related to learning. In teaching adaptively, teachers respond to learners as they work. Teachers read student signals to diagnose needs on the fly and tap previous experience with similar learners to…

This analysis discusses the constructivist paradigm of teaching Arabic as a foreign language in Malaysian settings. This review examines the role of interactive multimedia in enhancing the chalk and talk methods of teaching Arabic in Malaysian schools. This paper also investigates the importance of Arabic Language in Malaysia. Furthermore, the…

This book examines how the structure of schools might be changed so that students in their formative years are able to learn in a manner that allows them to be more creative. The modern world is shrinking as technology and connectivity create new ways to live, communicate, and do business. Education and learning must follow suit. The author…

This paper explores the potential role of creative learning in helping to create positive experiences for socially excluded young people. Noting the increased influence of the market into education and the onus engendered in the 'Third Way', which seeks to give socially and economically marginal individuals the opportunity to adapt to changing…

The history of Fermat's Last Theorem, recounted in the theatrical piece "Fermat's Last Tango," is a useful vehicle for introducing students to the variety of personalities, processes, and products involved in advanced mathematical investigation. The musical's accessible, informative, and positive portrayal of mathematicians and their work is…

Imaginative writing is a great vehicle for creative thinking and risk taking as children structure a reality in a story. However, the author believes that American children are untrained for this sort of work and progress. They need connected experiences. This insight intensifies the author's resolution to seek collaboration with artists in other…

This article reports findings from an ethnographic study of the arts curriculum and pedagogy in a British primary school. The policy context for the study is the school's involvement in promoting creative partnerships between teachers and artists. The pedagogies of three different artist-led projects are analysed, using a Bernsteinian framework,…