Presents an activity for representing a given number in as many ways as possible using short periods of time to develop students' number sense and provide the teacher the opportunity to make informal student assessment and diagnosis. Provides specific dialogue of the activity being used in a third grade class. (MDH)

Illustrates some applications of elementary probability and statistics to epidemiology, the branch of medical science that attempts to discover associations between events, patterns, and the cause of disease in human populations. Uses real-life examples involving cancer's link to smoking and the AIDS virus. (MDH)

Provides methods for cooperative, student investigation of weather data similar to methods currently used by atmospheric scientists. Utilizes spreadsheets to focus on the analysis and interpretation of wind frequency data for a small town in Oregon. (JJK)

Applies the Lesh Translation Model to develop conceptual understanding by showing relationships between five modes of representation proposed by Lesh to learn multiplication of fractions. Presents five teaching activities based on the translation model. (MDH)

Presents two cognitive models that illustrate the commonalities between reading for meaning and solving mathematical problems with meaning. Discusses the importance of number sense in the prior knowledge component of the solving with meaning model and the implications of the models in teaching mathematics. (MDH)

The second in a series of three articles, some themes of an undercurrent of educational objectives that move beyond the evident content goals are outlined. The themes relate the computer software materials analyzed in Part I to the cognitive experiences that students should have in learning about subject matter. (MDH)

Discusses ways that calculators and computer microworlds, such as LOGO and Shape Makers, can be used as tools for exploration, problem solving, and empowerment in school mathematics. Includes suggestions for classroom activities. (Contains 12 references.) (MKR)

Presents a framework used in shaping two major mathematics teacher education research and development projects, built on a framework for mathematics learning derived from a social constructivist view of learning and incorporating aspects of French didactical theory. Describes interconnections between different domains of teacher knowledge.…

Presents four examples of multicultural literature which can be used to link stories and data-collecting activities to help students communicate in mathematics. Includes an appendix with additional topics for graphing exercises and a six-item annotated bibliography. (23 references) (MKR)

Discusses curriculum changes necessary to use technology in an introductory statistics course, including outline of the curriculum, grading, use of statistical software, relevance to current events, use of writing, objectives, working in teams, data summary, data analysis, and exams. (MKR)

Two classroom research studies with third graders examined the effects of collaborative test-taking on student mathematics retention. Findings from the first study indicated that collaborative testing promoted retention, but results of the second study contradicted the initial findings. Possible explanations for the differences included student…

Describes an intervention in which an elementary principal taught math to a group of four underachieving third-grade students in the classroom. Discusses the principal's influence on the entire class, as well as on the low achievers. The target students' achievement improved negligibly, but their behavior and work habits improved noticeably, and…

Presents three hands-on, discovery geometry lessons based on the use of special pieces called Polydrons by a fifth-grade class to build and investigate special properties of polyhedra and to stimulate students to think geometrically. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

This play continues a dramatization used in the NCTM videotape Mathematics Assessment: Alternative Approaches. Issues and methods of assessment are discussed from the points of view of the teacher, students, principal, and parents. Methods include portfolios, informal interviews, group projects, and open-ended questioning. (MKR)

Presents lesson plans for activities to introduce recursive sequences of polygons: golden triangles, regular pentagons, and pentagrams. The resulting number patterns involve Fibonacci sequences. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)