Quilt investigations, such as the Barn quilt problem in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of "Teaching Children Mathematics" and its solutions in last month's issue, can spark interdisciplinary pursuits for teachers and exciting connections for the full range of elementary school students. This month, North Dakota's centennial quilt…

How can a teacher use the practice of reflection to create rich mathematical learning environments that are engaging to students? In such environments, one can hear and see a seamless integration of Problem Solving, Reasoning and Proof, Communication, making mathematical Connections, and Representation (the NCTM Process Standards) through Number…

A simple circuit is created by the continuous flow of electricity through conductors (copper wires) from a source of electrical energy (batteries). "Completing a circuit" means that electricity flows from the energy source through the circuit and, in the case described in this month's problem, causes the light bulb tolight up. The presence of…

This article, which describes integrating virtual manipulatives with the teaching of probability at the elementary level, puts a "virtual spin" on the teaching of probability to provide more opportunities for students to experience successful learning. The traditional use of concrete manipulatives is enhanced with virtual coins and spinners from…

Presents student responses to the "The Darts, Anyone?" problem that appeared in the May, 1999 issue of this journal. The problem concerned finding possible scores on dart rings. (KHR)

Presents a problem of triangular tiles that involves counting and probability. Includes instructor guiding questions. (KHR)

Presents a word problem designed to encourage students to create systematic methods for counting and develop probability concepts. Involves sharing eight cookies between three people. (KHR)

Presents activities that allow primary grade students to develop specific thinking strategies for basic facts such as counting on, using doubles, and making 10 in problem-solving settings. Discusses other topics such as probability, spatial sense, and money. Offers rich opportunities for reasoning and communication. (ASK)

Presents an activity introducing probability and patterns to multigrade students. Uses the storybook "The Thirteen Days of Halloween" to demonstrate numbers, patterns, and probability. (ASK)

Investigates and explores questions and activities related to using a calendar. Students explore number sense and operations, logical reasoning, data analysis, probability, and algebra. (Author/NB)

Presents a problem for students in grades 1-6 concerning the concept of probability. Discusses the student problem-solving process, and provides some responses to the problem published in the January 1998 issue of this journal. (ASK)

Describes the use of the children's book, "The Wolf's Chicken Stew," to present open-ended tasks designed to involve children in problem solving: estimating; conducting probability experiments; and collecting, sorting, classifying, displaying, and interpreting data. (MKR)