Every student should understand and use all concepts and skills from the previous grade levels. The standard is designed so that new learning builds on preceding skills. Communications, Problem-solving, Reasoning & Proof, Connections, and Representation are the process standards that are embedded throughout the teaching and learning of all…

Every student should understand and use all concepts and skills from the previous grade levels. The standard is designed so that new learning builds on preceding skills. Communications, Problem-solving, Reasoning & Proof, Connections, and Representation are the process standards that are embedded throughout the teaching and learning of all…

This article describes how the story of Alice in Wonderland helps students understand the operation of multiplying by a rational number less than 1 and related aspects of ratio and proportion. Included with this article is a "How Tall Is Alice?" Worksheet. (Contains 1 table and 6 figures.)

This paper proposes that there are some students who understand mathematics but just can't remember the rules to use it, and others who have accurate rote memory but can't apply the facts they know or do not understand the concepts behind them. The guided discovery approach to teaching mathematics is introduced. This approach promotes a system of…

Discusses an approach to teaching multiplication that establishes an association between what is learned and what is already known. Notes that this technique recognizes the qualities of a set of facts has in common, applies this knowledge to the grouping of facts, presents a visual illustration of the multiplication table, and offers an…

Offers a narrative based on a real event, in the form of a "docustory," describing that moment when teaching worked--when, in an instructional setting, communication was "perfect,""best," or "excellent." Describes how, in a one-room country school where "buddy assignments" were common, a second-grade boy helped a third grader to finally understand…

Describes a technique from Japan, the lesson study, where teachers study ways of teaching one lesson for several hours while focussing on the concepts of multiplication and division. (ASK)

This article discusses the role of the commutative, associative, distributive, and identity properties of addition and multiplication in preparing children for future success in algebra. (Contains 3 figures.)

Presents activities designed to help children understand the notion of a sample in a homogeneous group, a concept essential to understanding "R times E" problems. Underscores the importance of children's understanding the situation in a problem so that they can solve it. (JN)

Focuses on children making sense of multiplication. In an activity called "Silent Multiplication," students use what they know about easier multiplication problems to solve increasingly difficult, related problems mentally. (Author/NB)

The "count-by" technique of multiplication was taught to a fourth grade student with learning disabilities. The student learned to count by numbers not typically taught (e.g., fours, sevens, and eights). The method resulted in substantial increases in correct multiplications performed per minute, which were maintained and generalized to…

If the goal is to promote mathematical thinking and help children become flexible problem solvers, then it is important to show students multiple representations of a problem. Because it is important to help students develop both counting-based and collections-based conceptions of number, teachers should be showing students both number line…

This article describes a multisensory method for teaching students how to multiply and divide as well as add and subtract integers. The author uses sidewalk chalk and the underlying concept of integers to physically and mentally engage students in understanding the concepts of integers, making connections, and developing computational fluency.…

Drawing upon research, theory, classroom and personal experiences, this paper focuses on the development of primary-aged children's computational fluency. It emphasises the critical links between number sense and a child's ability to perform mental and written computation. The case of multi-digit multiplication is used to illustrate these…

Activities are presented that focus on attributes of numbers. The activities highlight such attributes as more than, equal to, greater than, less than, LCM, prime and factor. The activities provide practice in motivational game-oriented situations. (RH)