Discusses the importance of revisiting problems to encourage children to amplify their mathematical thinking and for teachers to note developmental growth and patterns among learners. Describes experiences with a classic problem that was revisited several times. (ASK)

Discusses the use of math storybooks, including the stories written by students with their parents to get parents actively involved in their children's mathematics learning and to make mathematics more relevant to students' lives. (ASK)

Explains how critical thinking, communication, and estimation can be incorporated into an exciting problem-solving unit for first-grade students. Presents four related activities. (ASK)

Presents evidence from data on how well five first-grade classes did without any formal instruction showing that if children's numerical reasoning is strong, then formal instruction of missing addends is unnecessary. Explains the findings in light of Piaget's constructivism and discusses educational implications. (ASK)

Presents a mathematical investigation focusing on measurement, data collection, and decision making in the context of mining for grades four and five. Encourages students to make their own decisions about collecting data and the methods most appropriately used for analysis. (ASK)

Examines the effects of different learning experiences on children's thinking about two- and three-dimensional shapes. (ASK)

Presents research findings and suggestions on how children learn to categorize shapes. Discusses specific ways to present developmentally appropriate activities designed to enhance children's understanding of basic shapes. Contains 12 references. (ASK)

Describes the use of Lois Ehlert's 1991 book "Planting a Rainbow" as the basis for a mathematics project involving gardening for primary students. Delineates gardening-activity suggestions related to mental math, numbers and operation, measurement, geometry and spatial awareness, time and money, patterns and relationships, and statistics and…

Describes an after-school mathematics enrichment program in which children can freely experiment and play with mathematics and presents research observations. Offers some recommendations to teachers for implementing the program ideas in their classrooms. Contains 18 references. (ASK)

Provides a lesson that focuses on three-dimensional graphing, contours, and topographical maps using computer spreadsheets. (ASK)

Describes approaches taken with concepts associated with exponential functions by using graphing calculators to provide students with concrete meaning for the sometimes abstract concepts involved and to link students' learning with their existing knowledge. (ASK)

Describes one teacher's effort to change the classroom environment in order to create student-directed exploratory learning. Presents a lesson in which students use the computer program Lesson Graph to study the effects of coefficients on linear equations. (ASK)

Presents remarks adapted from the presidential address of the 1999 annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Argues that the mathematics classroom teacher must create an environment that supports students' interests and mathematical growth at many different levels, and suggests ways to accomplish this. Considers…

Describes an action-research study conducted in a third-grade classroom that integrates mathematical problem solving with the writing process through the use of the Mathematician's Chair. Contains 14 references. (ASK)

Discusses important lessons on the mathematics of manufacturing and how curriculum content and teaching can prepare students for working. Features concepts such as the importance of spatial and geometric reasoning, problem solving, numbers and computation, and measurement. (ASK)