This paper examines the existence and impact of theoretical mathematical foundations on the teaching and learning of whole numbers in elementary school in France. It shows that the study of the New Math reform--which was eventually itself replaced in the longer term--provides some keys to understanding the influence of mathematical theories on…

Recent evidence suggests that early natural number knowledge is a predictor of later rational number conceptual knowledge, even though students' difficulties with rational numbers have also been explained by the overuse of natural number concepts--often referred to as the natural number bias. Hannula and Lehtinen ("Learn Instr"…

Discusses mastery goals and developmental levels of students aged 3-7 for learning numbers in informal situations. (KHR)

Argues that number concepts are not single-faceted ideas that children either have or do not have. Suggests that number concepts can be broadened by helping children develop a collection of relations. Examples of classroom activities are included. (PK)

This document contains a workshop presentation for elementary mathematics teachers. The purpose of the workshop is to demonstrate methods for teaching computational concepts beginning with concrete materials and moving to expressing these concepts abstractly with numerical symbols. Section headings are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Sorting and…

The author argues on theoretical grounds that not all "logical" pre-number activities are equally relevant for numeracy, and concludes with a practical suggestion for the kind of activity which does have particular relevance. (MN)

A series of nine activities that illustrate prime factorization and other elementary number theory ideas in concrete, representative, and symbolic form are described. (MNS)

Two major ways to view the numbers to 100 are counting by ones and grouping by tens and ones. Research suggests that early understanding of numbers comes from counting and that place value instruction cannot be hurried. (PK)

Demonstrates the consequences of teaching rules without understanding using examples from two 3rd grade children. Suggests alternative instructional strategies. (KHR)

Describes seven estimation and counting activities appropriate for an early childhood classroom. Includes suggested methods for going beyond the prescribed activities. (PK)

Suggests ways to increase students' computational fluency using concrete materials, engaging tasks, and reflection time to increase number automaticity, flexibility in thinking about numbers, and use of efficient problem-solving strategies to find sums and differences. (Author/NB)

Thirty-six Korean first graders were interviewed to study their ability solving addition problems with sums of 10, single-digit sums between 10 and 18, and subtraction problems with minuends between 10 and 18. Finger methods to show sums over 10 and the regular named-10 Korean number words supported their learning of 3 efficient recomposition…

Extracts from "Experimenting with Numbers" by Margaret Stern demonstrate the use of Stern Blocks to develop the conceptual base on which learning disabled students can build further mathematical skills. (DB)

This paper provides some guidance as to what to listen for to help students make sense of expressions in ways that connect to their ideas and honestly address the mathematics of rational numbers. It offers a reasonable initial answer to the question, "Where do students' ideas about fractions and ratios come from, and how can we work productively…

Describes a teaching experiment conducted over a period of four consecutive days with 13 fourth grade students who had already completed a unit of fractions to determine whether problematic size was the ordering criteria. Concludes that children can indeed order fractions as they do natural numbers. (Contains 11 references.) (ASK)