Presents ways to stimulate teachers to try several techniques for having students write their own problems and verify their meanings with others to become effective mathematics problem solvers. These techniques include sharing self-generated problems in a Mathematician's Circle and publishing problems on worksheets. (PVD)

Describes a project for first and second graders involving gathering and interpreting survey data from another student they have never met to identify the student at the end of the project. Includes sample curricular goals and instructional strategies. (MKR)

Describes a mathematical investigation of gold--how it is weighed, stored, used, and valued. For grades 3-4, children estimate the value of treasure chests filled with gold coins and explore the size and weight of gold bars. Children in grades 5-6 explore how gold is mined and used, and how the value of gold changes over time. (PVD)

Describes a literature-based approach to helping primary students become more proficient problem solvers in mathematics. Literature-based activities were chosen to develop a sense of community in the classroom. This enabled students to develop the self-confidence to share thoughts and feelings while problem solving in small-group and class…

Using the children's book "Tops and Bottoms" by Janet Stevens--an adaptation of the classic fable of the Tortoise and the Hare--students are given opportunities to build connections between a problem-solving situation and mathematics and to communicate solutions through writing, symbols, and diagrams. A key concept is to demonstrate to students…

Five classroom situations in Japanese elementary schools are described and interpreted from perspective of first four standards in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. Concludes that Japanese children do so well in mathematics because Japanese teachers embody essence of the standards in…