Emperor penguins, the largest of all the penguin species, attain heights of nearly four feet and weigh up to 99 pounds. Many students are not motivated to learn mathematics when textbook examples contain largely nonexistent contexts or when the math is not used to solve significant problems found in real life. This article's project explores how…

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) (CCSSI 2010) identifies the strategic use of appropriate tools as one of the mathematical practices and emphasizes the use of pictures and diagrams as reasoning tools. Starting with the early elementary grades, CCSSM discusses students' solving of problems "by drawing." In later…

Students can use geometric representations of numbers as a way to explore algebraic ideas. With the help of these representations, students can think about the relations among the numbers, express them using their own words, and represent them with letters. The activities discussed here can stimulate students to try to find various ways of solving…

Taiwanese students consistently rank near the top on international exams on mathematics and science. In 2007, Taiwan recorded the highest TIMSS math score for eighth grade. The central education agency in Taiwan publishes detailed mathematics curriculum guidelines, which textbooks and national exams follow closely. In May each year, all ninth…

This article presents major results of TIMSS, along with practical suggestions and questions that mathematics teachers can ask themselves in terms of how to apply the results to the improvement of their practice.

Looks at how some Portuguese preservice teachers are learning how to implement Standards-based teaching strategies. (YDS)

Describes students' enthusiasm for Tuesdays in an American community school in Greece when they get together in small groups to explore, conjecture, analyze, and solve mathematics problems. (ASK)

Illustrates a modeling approach used by Singapore educators to teach mathematical skills and concepts in a problem-solving environment. (Contains 11 references.) (YDS)

Usiskin takes another look at fractions, years after writing the article "The Future of Fractions" for "Arithmetic Teacher".