Describes an experience with modeling as a teaching technique in the mathematics classroom as opposed to mathematical modeling. Offering models in the mathematics classroom is a good idea. Presents fundamental ideas for creating an effective learning environment with models. (WRM)

Describes a study examining the effect of hand-held calculators on student achievement in college developmental mathematics classes. Finds no significant differences between control and treatment groups, indicating that students who used calculators scored slightly lower on posttests but achieved higher final course grades as a group than control…

This study examined the arithmetic computation performance of 229 normally achieving students (ages 9 to 14) and 101 students with learning disabilities. Results found that the students with learning disabilities performed at lower levels and that their progress from one age to another was extremely limited. (Author/CR)

Explores World Wide Web sites developmental students can visit to improve their writing, study, math, and reading skills. (VWC)

Critical review of California's standards-aligned mathematics textbook-adoption process. Concludes that emphasis on skills-based drills aligned with standardized tests will dominate mathematics instruction in California. Hopes the other states will not follow California's example. (Contains 31 references.) (PKP)

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' "Curriculum and Evaluation Standards" in 1989 was pivotal in mathematics reform. The National Science Foundation funded several curriculum projects to address the vision described in the "Standards." This study investigates students' learning in one of these "Standards"-based curricula, the…

Teachers are often faced with the difficulty of deciding exactly what problems the students are experiencing, and the extent to which students might understand "some of it". The one-on-one approach to helping students is most common, but very time consuming, and is an approach that may only serve to fix an immediate difficulty, perhaps…

This research study involved both quantitative and qualitative analysis of elementary teachers' problem-solving skills before and after a focused summer intervention program. Following research-based recommendations for effective professional development, the researchers developed and implemented a program to teach general problem-solving…

This article argues for a social and cultural perspective on mathematics education that sees mathematical knowledge as a "new" civil right and cites The Algebra Project as an example of culturally-responsive instruction. Recommendations are made for reforming teacher education, by including a course for all prospective middle and high school…

Contexts are currently enjoying much prominence in school mathematics. Generally, the contextual issues and situations learners are exposed to and deal with in Mathematical Literacy are, with good reason, determined by curriculum, learning resource and test designers. This article reports on a study that investigated contexts that learners would…

Undergraduate college students in an advanced math class were videotaped as they worked on three mathematical proofs. Findings indicated that both ability and self-efficacy were needed for group success. Members with high levels of self-efficacy served the group by encouraging others to continue working. Groups tended to use a trial-and-error…

This study was conducted to determine whether the cognitive performance of reading disabled and poor readers can be separated under dynamic assessment procedures, and whether measures related to dynamic assessment add unique variance, beyond IO, in predicting reading achievement scores. The sample consisted of 70 children (39 females and 31…

After scrambling to raise students' skills in math and reading, state and school administrators are beginning to place renewed emphasis on science, with the approaching mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) squarely in mind. That effort is taking shape on many fronts, from the design of new tests in science subjects to the revamping of…

To investigate mechanisms of failure in mathematics, we adopt the "communicational approach to cognition," which describes thinking as an activity of communication and learning mathematics as an initiation to a certain type of discourse. In the search for factors that impede students' participation in arithmetic communication, we examine…

Teachers can help students build a disposition to use connections in solving mathematical problems, rather than mathematics as a set of disconnected, isolated concepts and skills. One activity that addresses the criteria that involve problem solving, reasoning, communication, and representation that together create a vision that encourages…