Calculator use by kindergarten and first-grade pupils was examined to see whether they could perceive and use the "counter button." Results indicated pupils at this age could use calculators as a tool, and further research is encouraged. (MP)

Motivation for practicing basic arithmetic skills is provided by activities based on dart board games. There activities also require participants to devise winning strategies, adding enrichment to the game-type drills. (JP)

The author describes an experiment to compare performance of grade 1-3 children on the various types of open sentence associated with basic number facts, and suggests some explanations for the results obtained. (MM)

The goal was to help 7- and 8-year olds develop computational skills in addition and subtraction. Experimental groups received instruction emphasizing mathematical structure while control groups worked on drill activities. Results showed that emphasizing structure facilitated the development of number concepts, place value, and computational…

The author describes various classroom activities for teaching basic number skills under the headings (1) Understanding facts, (2) Relating facts, and (3) Mastering facts. The activities are designed to involve children in the making of models of the operations of arithmetic and the interpretation of these models with number sentences. (MM)

Presents an issue that arises in every country: How can teachers best help children master basic addition and subtraction facts? Discusses how this is handled in China and highlights the impact that language has on how children think about numbers. (KHR)

The purpose of this study was to relate children's cognitive processing capabilities and their grade level to their performance and to the strategies they used when working addition and subtraction problems. From two sets of data which assessed memory capacity and cognitive processing capacities, six groups of children with different cognitive…

This study compared the error patterns of third- and fourth-grade children on addition, subtraction, and multiplication exercises in horizontal and vertical formats. The research design used parallel eight-item tests for each operation; the only difference between items on parallel forms was the formal (horizontal or vertical) of the computational…

A different method of teaching students the basic addition facts is presented. If a child is able to conserve quantity, then the organized program designed to aid in the memorization of facts is possible. (MP)

Eight sixth-grade students received individualized instruction on the addition and subtraction of fractions in a one-to-one setting for 6 weeks. Instruction was specifically designed to build upon the student's prior knowledge of fractions. It was determined that all students possessed a rich store of prior knowledge about parts of wholes in real…

Eight sixth-grade students received individualized instruction on the addition and subtraction of fractions in a one-to-one setting for 6 weeks. Instruction was specifically designed to build upon the student's prior knowledge of fraction ideas and to emphasize estimation. It was determined that all students possessed a rich store of prior…

The study investigated children's ability to write number sentences for simple addition and subtraction word problems. The results suggest that open number sentences may provide mathematical symbolism that allows young children to build on informal strategies for presenting and solving simple word problems. (Author/PK)

Describes a study designed to investigate the relationship between students' learning of the standard double-digit addition algorithm and basic fact mastery or numeration concepts. Results suggest basic fact mastery and knowledge of numeration concepts may not be as necessary as previously assumed to learning multidigit addition. (PK)

Presents a method of teaching two-column addition which the authors argue is based on Piaget's theory and fosters the children's own natural thinking. The method does not use objects such as straws bundled or base-ten blocks. (PK)

Three classroom games for practicing addition skills are described; giving number of players, equipment needed, and directions. All materials can be readily and inexpensively prepared by the teacher. (LS)