Presents an activity in which students must arrange five fractions represented by dominoes in ascending order and justify their reasons for the ordering. Representing common fractions with dominoes helps identify students' misconceptions about fractions. (ASK)

We investigate how vision affects haptic performance when task-relevant visual cues are reduced or excluded. The task was to remember the spatial location of six landmarks that were explored by touch in a tactile map. Here, we use specially designed spectacles that simulate residual peripheral vision, tunnel vision, diffuse light perception, and…

This research study examines the instructional practices of 10 middle grades teachers related to their use of manipulatives in teaching mathematics and their control of mathematics tools during instruction. Through 40 observations of teaching, 30 interviews, and an examination of 67 written documents (including teachers' plans and records),…

A number of chemical concepts can be easily illustrated in a more friendly way to children by using toys as teaching tools in the classroom. Some of the examples illustrated are shrinking toys, drinking birds and hand boiler.

Integration of subject areas with technology and thinking skills is a way to help teachers cope with today's overloaded curriculum and to help students see the connectedness of different curriculum areas. This study compares three authentic approaches to teaching a science unit on bird adaptations for habitat that integrate thinking skills and…

Young children often have difficulty with understanding money in a formal school setting, yet most mathematics textbooks are virtually identical in how they teach second graders about money and do not take into account the cognitive stages of children's development. This research examined the effectiveness of traditional and alternative classroom…

There are numerous teaching suggestions to offer in guiding pupils to greater achievement in mathematics. This paper suggests that the instructor should begin where the pupil is presently and observe what interests the pupil in learning. Different methods for teaching mathematics such as using blocks, beads, films, filmstrips or slides, a…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of manipulatives on student achievement in a high school Algebra I class. The study was conducted during the third nine weeks grading period in the spring of 1997 at a high school in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The study groups used in the study were two Algebra I classes. One class had an…

The isometric grid geoboard can be used to demonstrate the nine-point circle theorem. (SD)

Attribute blocks are described, with suggestions for developing sets of attribute materials. Various activities and games are described and illustrated. (MNS)

Instruments have been used for centuries in mathematical experience and in the teaching tradition as well. One example is cultural instruments inherited from tradition (e.g., rulers, abaci, compasses, curve-drawing devices) that have followed or anticipated the theoretical development of mathematics. In this article, the authors analyze two cases…

This book provides elementary school teachers, physical education specialists, special education teachers, recreation leaders, and parents with some innovative ideas for construction and utilization of homemade playground equipment. Activities which have been found to be interesting to children and adaptable to large classes are suggested. The…

The establishment of a mathematics laboratory, staffed mainly by volunteer parents, is described. Later college student volunteers and a paid aide were added. Organization, training sessions, materials, problems, and evaluation are discussed. (LS)

Details and diagrams of apparatus for coordination, shape and color recognition, number work, matching, and other basic skills, constructed for use in elementary special education classes, are provided. (DT)