Notes that Montessori classrooms provide children with the opportunity to explore and discover mathematics. Describes the introduction to Pascal's Triangle as a suggested opportunity to connect young children to deep mathematical truths. Provides teachers with materials requirements, and notes ideas on what can be acquired from the problem, the…

Contrasts student achievement using commercial curricula (CC) for initial fraction learning with that of using the Rational Number Project (RNP) fraction curriculum. Indicates that students using RNP materials had statistically higher mean scores on concepts, order, transfer, and estimation. Interview data showed differences in the quality of…

This study compared effectiveness of either a concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) or a representational-abstract (RA) instructional sequence in teaching fraction concepts to 50 middle school students with mathematics disabilities. On all achievement measures, students in the CRA group had overall higher mean scores than did students in the RA…

Described is a study in which three instructional approaches were applied in second grade classes. Discussed are proportional materials, nonproportional materials, nonproportional materials with pictorial models. Findings, results, and recommendations are presented. (CW)

Discusses the ways in which young children's minds can be engaged through play with a variety of manipulative objects and experiential activities in the day care environment. Such engagement encourages children's thinking and increases awareness and understanding of the world. (NH)

Describes the steps for making overhead manipulative materials on base-10 blocks, colored chips, place-value charts, number lines, and grids. Suggests the materials, procedures, and uses. (YP)

A bulletin board learning center was used to improve the spelling performance of students with learning disabilities in grades five-six. Using a fishing theme, the bulletin board became part of an instructional approach which involved tape recordings of spelling words, tactile learning, matching words to scrambled letters, completing cloze…

Describes the benefits and techniques of having students create models of chemical compounds. This hands-on approach uses colored paper and other inexpensive materials to construct the models. A step-by-step approach provides objectives, materials, an explanation on how to calculate chemical ratios, procedures, follow-up activities, and a resource…

Illustrates various methods to determine the perimeter and area of triangles and polygons formed on the geoboard. Methods utilize algebraic techniques, trigonometry, geometric theorems, and analytic geometry to solve problems and connect a variety of mathematical concepts. (MDH)

Presents methods for teaching two mathematical concepts that utilize visualization. The first illustrates a visual approach to developing the formula for the sum of the terms of an arithmetic sequence. The second develops the relationship between the slopes of perpendicular lines by performing a rotation of the coordinate axes and examining the…

Presents two ideas to help beginning mathematics teachers. The first presents a way to record and grade homework. The second suggests a manipulative to help students understand the trigonometric concept of reference angle. (MDH)

Provides Terrapin LOGO programs that use graphic manipulatives--squares, logs, and units--to form the area of a rectangle as a graphical representation for any trinomial of the form: Axx + Bx + C. An important component is the connection of the procedural skill of trinomial factoring to the visualization of the accompanying rectangular displays.…

Presents instructions for a class project to produce a raised relief map. Reports that students will learn to interpret elevations from contour lines, interpret map symbolization, realize that the area represented is a real area, and redefine the meaning of a map scale. Includes a list of materials needed and details of construction. (DK)

A technique used to teach removal of foreign bodies from eyes uses freshly slaughtered calves' eyes in which metal particles are embedded at different depths. The approach develops both mechanical skills and problem-oriented evaluation and management of patients. Preparation and presentation of workshops using the technique are also discussed.…

A multisensory program using a counting technique was effective in teaching math skills to three elementary students with mild disabilities. Results showed significant gains in acquisition of target skills as well as maintenance and generalization to novel math problems. (Author/DB)