Textbook is one of the most tangible resources for teaching and learning mathematics, offering valuable opportunities for both teachers and students. This study compared the mathematical tasks in 6th-grade textbooks from the United States and Turkey, focusing on three dimensions of the tasks: representation, contextual features, and cognitive…

The ability to solve mathematical problems has been an interesting research topic for several decades. Intuition is considered a part of higher-level thinking that can help improve mathematical problem-solving abilities. Although many studies have been conducted on mathematical problem-solving, research on intuition as a bridge in mathematical…

Students are faced with many transitions in their middle school mathematics classes. To build knowledge, skills, and confidence in the key areas of algebra and geometry, students often need to practice using numbers and polygons in a variety of contexts. Teachers also want students to explore ideas from probability and statistics. Teachers know…

Mathematics educators and researchers have advocated for the use of manipulatives to teach mathematics for decades. The purpose of this article is to provide illustrative uses of a readily available manipulative rather than a complete list. From an Australian perspective, Pop-it fidget toys can be used across the mathematics curriculum. This paper…

Many educators use informal math language to make the content more accessible for middle school students, yet this use of informal language may have unintended consequences. Informal language may hinder students' development of a deep math lexicon and understanding of concepts and procedures across grade levels. Becoming proficient with math…

This article looks at a simple geometry problem that also involves some reasoning about number combinations, and show how it was used in a Year 7 classroom. The problem is accessible to students with a wide range of abilities, and provides scope for stimulating extensive discussion and reasoning in the classroom, as well as an opportunity for…

Nearly all studies aiming to determine the effect of modern teaching methods on academic success using an experimental design contain control groups in which traditional methods are used. Effect of traditional methods in geometry and numbers learning domains on academic achievement has not been conclusively studied by researchers yet. On the other…

"Mathematical Thinking: From Assessment Items to Challenging Tasks" is a compilation of 36 problem-based lessons that encourage students to engage in productive struggle and deep thinking. Its 36 full-length lessons for grades 2-8 are each inspired by an actual test item from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).…

The international comparison of students' mathematics knowledge and competencies is an effective method of evaluating students' mathematics performance and developing policies to improve their achievements in mathematics. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) are among the most well-recognized international comparisons that…

This Framework builds upon the foundation of the 2010 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for Mathematics as well as versions of the Massachusetts Mathematics Framework published since 1995. The current Framework incorporates improvements suggested by Massachusetts educators after six years of experience in implementing the 2010 standards in their…

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine whether differences exist in the mathematics achievement of fifth grade gifted students based on the instructional delivery model used for mathematics instruction, cluster or collaborative, as defined by the Georgia Department of Education. The content area of mathematics, an area…

This article offers some ideas about creating mathematical art based on number patterns. It includes a process for students that integrates number and geometry and results in attractive and useful patterned squares. Students may pursue the activity with paper and pencil or they may use computer software like The Geometer's Sketchpad to achieve…

The "Connected Mathematics Project" ("CMP)" is a problem-centered mathematics curriculum designed for all students in grades 6-8. Each grade level of the curriculum is a full-year program and covers numbers, algebra, geometry/measurement, probability, and statistics. The program seeks to make connections within mathematics,…

The authors present an analysis of portfolio entries submitted by candidates seeking certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the area of Early Adolescence/Mathematics. Analyses of mathematical features revealed that the tasks used in instruction included a range of mathematics topics but were not consistently…

This article discusses the importance of measurement in providing a foundation for mathematical study and how measurement can be integrated with other mathematical strands. (Contains 1 table.)