This article is the first in a series which draws on findings from Nunes, Watson and Bryant (2009): "Key understandings in school mathematics: a report to the Nuffield Foundation." The Nuffield report is soundly based on research about how children learn some of the concepts involved in mathematics. In this series of articles the author takes key…

In "MT218" the author looked at the possibility of basing a classroom activity on a simple, though not totally transparent, number-theoretic result. In this article he considers another relatively straightforward idea from number theory that could be used either as a lesson starter or as the basis of a more substantial task, requiring students to…

The author redefines basic numeracy as the ability to use a four-function calculator sensibly. He then defines "sensibly" and considers the place of algorithms in the scheme of mathematical calculations. (MN)

Noitcarf numbers provide a simulation activity that allows teachers or education students to gain an understanding of the feelings of students who are taught mathematics by a "rules" method. They are actually an abstract presentation of operations with fractions. (MK)