This booklet is the print component of a Title II-funded package designed to enhance elementary school mathematics instruction through a problem solving approach that promotes mathematics learning in an environment of inquiry, risk taking, and classroom dialogue. The other component is a 28-minute videotape in which teachers present each of the…

The purpose of this inservice project was to help elementary teachers overcome their reluctance to deviate from commercially prepared materials by becoming aware of and building connections between the understanding of mathematical processes through the use of concrete, representational, and symbolic manipulatives with the four arithmetic…

Two short articles about tactile illustrating are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. Focusing on tactile graphics, the first article discusses the conversion of significant print graphic information to the clearest, most factually legible form possible. Tips for achieving factual legibility and the…

This guide contains six sections which offer suggested sequential steps for teaching addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fraction concepts and algorithms, and decimal fractions. Based on the manipulative approach, the guide offers activities and teaching methods which give students many opportunities to work with models. This approach…

The study investigated whether (1) instruction providing for experimental manipulation by students was superior to instruction in which teachers perform the manipulations and children observe, and (2) spatial ability was related to mode of instruction. Participating in the 8-week study were 141 students aged 12-15 in seven intact eighth-grade…

Teaching activities are suggested for the development of aural language programs. (JH)

This digest suggests that research findings can provide teachers with verification and clarification of how children learn mathematics, and thus how to teach mathematics more effectively. Three topics are discussed: (1) number concepts; (2) problem solving; and (3) manipulative materials. (PK)

The unit box concept is an inquiry-oriented unit of instruction which helps preservice students develop teachable science units based on commercially available teaching guides. The unit box (which utilizes appropriate concrete materials to encourage hands-on learning for elementary students) contains everything needed to teach a specific unit,…

A first-grade teacher implemented a practicum intervention designed to increase the availability and use of manipulative materials for mathematics activities in kindergarten, first-, and second-grade classes. Primary goals were to: (1) provide teachers with the understanding and competence needed to incorporate the use of manipulative materials…

A multi-subject approach to using tangram puzzles in the classroom is included along with a short history section and accompanying lessons. These lessons provide an introduction to tangrams; methods for teaching bilingual and English-dominant children concepts and skills through activities that do not require strong English skills; and activities…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of two instructional approaches upon the attitude, achievement, and retention of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders studying a 3-week unit on the metric system. A laboratory approach, in which students measured three-dimensional objects with tools scaled in metric units, was…

Observation of patterns constructed on geoboards can lead to discussions of properties of primes, number sequences, and complex numbers. (SD)

This study was designed to examine effects that access to manipulatives in science instruction have with respect to the development of spatial conceptual abilities and whether the effects were different for males and females. A secondary purpose of this investigation was to examine what relationship sex and access to manipulatives in conjunction…

The instruction of finger counting and finger calculation, also known as Chisanbop, is promoted as a natural method of introducing and teaching the basic processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to children, particularly to those who are mentally and physically handicapped. The sequential process for teaching finger…

This manual contains information on how to start and operate a toy lending library. Chapters and their subsections are: (1) Purpose of Toy Lending Libraries; (2) Types of Toy Libraries (independent libraries, libraries as part of other community services, and libraries mostly for parents); (3) Selecting Appropriate Toys and Equipment (general tips…