Describes the use of manipulatives for solving simple combinatorial problems which can lead to the discovery of recurrence relations for permutations and combinations. Numerical evidence and visual imagery generated by a computer spreadsheet through modeling these relations can enable students to experience the ease and power of combinatorial…

Uses marshmallows to teach students about atomic structure by having students make models of atoms out of marshmallows. Allows for creativity while enhancing students' understanding of atoms. (ASK)

Focuses on the strategies young children (N=115) use to solve rectangular covering tasks before they have been taught area measurement. Children's solution strategies were classified into five developmental levels. Emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between the size of a unit and the dimensions of the rectangle in learning…

Presents the idea of a mathematics workshop that teaches techniques that employs student choice, use of manipulatives, and student self-reflection. Shares the research base underlying mathematics workshops and describes how to conduct one. Illustrates three parts of the mathematics workshop: the minilesson, the activity period, and reflection…

Pilots and evaluates a math activity initially utilizing M&Ms as manipulatives, then progressing to computer software math activities, in five early childhood classrooms. Concludes that there were no significant differences between learning tasks, monolingual students vs. bilingual students, and manipulative (hands-off) activities vs. computer…

In this article, the author describes another teacher's unique approach to teaching science in one unusual second grade classroom. Immediately upon entering the classroom, the author was surrounded by an array of colors, shapes, and objects typically found in a forest. A multitude of puppets, stuffed animals, and live animals filled the classroom.…

This article describes four hands-on activities that can be used to develop probabilistic and statistical thinking in the middle grades. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

An instrument for assessing young students' understanding of the English orthographic system is presented. The Tile Test measures understanding of phoneme awareness, letter-sound correspondences, decoding and spelling of words, sight-word reading, and the application of decoding and spelling in sentences. Metalinguistic questions embedded within…

Each of the primary problems described in this article encourage children to "get into" the process of problem solving, and all can be introduced without written instructions. A demonstration by the teacher with large hands-on materials can involve all the children effectively and give him/her the opportunity to highlight key points and deal with…

Collaborative action research partnerships create rich opportunities for the professional development of teachers and classroom reform. This paper reports results from two action research projects. The first was a collaboration between the author and a seventh-grade mathematics teacher who wanted to change his mathematics teaching in an effort to…

The purpose of this book is to provide a framework for parents to use in tutoring their children in mathematics. Among the suggestions to parents are to be patient, employ a variety of strategies, break up learning into blocks of time, and integrate learning into everyday life so that realistic connections between academic concepts and the real…

This 20-minute videotape is designed to help parents understand why mathematics teaching has changed, how it will benefit children, and what they (parents) can do to help. The tape shows adult recollections of their experiences in mathematics classrooms, elementary mathematics classroom vignettes, and adult workers who use mathematics in their…

This study investigated how middle grades students provided with free access to manipulative materials use these mathematical tools in classrooms where their teachers are identified as Control-Oriented and Autonomy-Oriented. Also of interest in this investigation was how Control-Oriented and Autonomy-Oriented teachers administered the free access…

Counting books offer children the time and the tools to develop the understanding needed to solve problems. Stimulated by these books, children may use mathematic language and talk about mathematics as they get involved with materials to move and manipulate, as they use supportive aids found in illustrations, and as they interact with materials to…

Through a series of puzzles involving many geometric Objects,