This study investigated teachers' opinions of the effectiveness of various professional development activities influencing their attention to students' thinking. The teachers' entry characteristics, nature of the activities themselves, and teachers' ratings of the activities are focused in the study. Teachers (n=110) were surveyed to rate each…

The study reported in this paper is an attempt to develop a comprehensive model of measuring problem solving and posing (PSP) skills based on Marshall's schema theory (ST). A battery of tests on PSP skills was administered to 5th and 6th grade Cypriot students (n=2519). The Rasch model was used and a scale was created for the battery of tests and…

In this study we examine the development of prospective primary teachers' efficacy beliefs (TEB) with respect to teaching mathematics during practicum. The analysis of the responses of 89 student teachers in three repeated scale distributions indicated a marked positive change in all groups formed by cluster analysis. Eight students were…

Japanese lesson study, in various adapted forms, is becoming increasingly significant in professional development of mathematics teachers in the USA. Our goal in the research reported in this paper was to investigate, in a three-tiered teaching experiment, the cycles of learning of two researchers, six teachers, and the students in three grade 4…

To probe beyond declarative knowledge about real numbers in secondary school, the authors interviewed students in Grades 9, 10 and 12. The main question seems to be whether the length of a decimal expansion is "indefinite" or "infinite." It blurs the mental representation of rational numbers as well. (Contains 3 footnotes.) [For complete…

A significant number of African American students are failing mathematics courses. Identifying the causes of the students failing mathematics courses will solve a problem that has existed for almost a century. Current research will state that disparities in mathematics exist in American schools. The essay will research reasons why African American…

This guide is designed to accompany ESPN's SportsFigures video segments which were created to enhance the interest and learning progress of high school students in mathematics, physics, and physical science. Using actual, re-enacted, or staged events, the problems presented in each of the 16 Sports Figures segments illustrate the relationship…

Mathematics software can be a great aid in understanding difficult mathematics concepts at all levels. This paper presents nine exercises on calculus concepts by using different software used in mathematics education. Each exercise includes instruction on how to use software in order to highlight a specific concept in mathematics. This paper also…

Constructivist approaches to mathematics instruction based on the standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) have been widely advocated and are expanding in use. However, many educators express a need for constructivist approaches that provide specific student materials, assessments, teachers' manuals, professional…

Noting that nonfiction literature for children is plentiful, this book presents 16 essays by educators who write about selecting and sharing the best in nonfiction with elementary and middle school students. The ideas in the book progress from trends in nonfiction, criteria for selection, and nonfiction in specific curricular areas to use in the…

As almost every state attempts to reform mathematics instruction by implementing new teaching standards, state testing practices remain largely unchanged. Is there a mismatch between these new standards and the old tests? This question is investigated by examining whether middle school and high school algebra students taught in a manner consistent…

This study investigated the influence of textbooks on teaching strategies, specifically secondary school mathematics textbooks. The study compared the teaching strategies of 14 teachers using University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) textbooks in 13 schools with that of another 14 teachers using traditional textbooks in those…

This document describes a project which has serviced 226 students of limited English proficiency. Participating students received instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL); Haitian native language arts (NLA); and the content areas of mathematics, science, and computer science. Multicultural education was an integral part of programming.…

The second volume of this proceedings contains full research articles. Papers include: (1) "Lave and Wenger's social practice theory and teaching and learning school mathematics" (J. Adler); (2) "Being a researcher and being a teacher" (J. Ainley); (3) "Procedural and conceptual aspects of standard algorithms in…

The third volume of this proceedings contains full research articles. Papers include: (1) "A longitudinal study of children's fraction representations and problem-solving behavior" (G.A. Goldin and C.B. Passantino); (2) "Psychology students' conceptions of a statistics course" (S. Gordon, J. Nicholas, and K. Crawford); (3)…