In this article, the authors illustrates techniques for integrating diverse learners in shared mathematical contexts while providing differentiated support or challenge, as necessary. The techniques described were developed for a curriculum project entitled Learning Mathematics through Representations (LMR). A premise of LMR is that students'…

Decision making during instruction that is responsive to children's mathematical thinking is examined reflexively by the researcher in the context of teaching second graders. Focus is on exploring how the research base on learning informs teaching decisions that are oriented to building on children's sound conceptions. The development of four…

Statistics learners often bypass the critical step of understanding a problem before executing solutions. Worked-out examples that identify problem information (e.g., data type, number of groups, purpose of analysis) key to determining a solution (e.g., "t" test, chi-square, correlation) can address this concern. The authors examined the…

This report focuses on key elements of teaching occurring during intensive, one-to-one instruction with 3rd- and 4th-graders. The study involves six cases in all, each consisting of video records of up to eight lessons, each of 30-45 minutes' duration, resulting in the analysis of about 33 hours of video data. A resulting framework of four stages…

This qualitative study examines what mathematics teacher candidates with STEM backgrounds think about their future work as mathematics teachers. The content preparation for a STEM career is not identical with that taken by traditional teacher candidates and may not develop the pedagogical content knowledge necessary for candidates to connect their…

The aim of this study is to determine the problem solving skills and science process skills of six-year-old children who attended kindergarten and whether or not there is a difference in problem solving skills and science process skills of children receiving and not receiving the education with GEMS program. In the study using the experimental…

Research on non-cognitive factors has shown that persistence in the face of challenges plays an important role in learning. However, recent work on wheel-spinning, a type of unproductive persistence where students spend too much time struggling without achieving mastery of skills, show that not all persistence is uniformly beneficial for learning.…

Peer-led team learning (PLTL), specifically the model known as 'Workshops', has been shown to contribute positively and significantly to student success in STEM courses across subjects (Gosser et al., 2001). Our research adds to the SOTL literature describing the effectiveness of Workshops by reporting on the changes in student leaders. We examine…

This article explores how motivation in computer games could be integrated into mathematics education. The scope of the study was confined to four motivation dimensions, namely challenge, control, complexity and collaboration. A phenomenology study was conducted with the purpose to obtain a common understanding of nine teachers and 11 students…

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to determine if specific interpersonal skills (trustworthiness, communication, empathy, and problem-solving) possessed by principals, as perceived by teachers, are important characteristics in creating and maintaining a positive school climate, increasing student learning, and retaining teachers in the…

The need for global competence in mathematics is apparent. Algebra is considered a gateway course to prepare students for the demands of a competitive global market. Many students demonstrate low performance in algebra; this is especially true for students with disabilities. Effective algebra instruction is essential to increase algebra…

When elementary ordinary differential equations (ODEs) of first and second order are included in the calculus curriculum, second-order linear constant coefficient ODEs are typically solved by a method more appropriate to differential equations courses. This method involves the characteristic equation and its roots, complex-valued solutions, and…

This article makes two simple observations about high-stakes assessments. The first is that, because mathematics is a very technical subject, an assessment item can be mathematically flawed regardless of how elementary it is. For this reason, every assessment project needs the active participation of high level mathematicians. A second point is…

The teaching of mathematics involves problem solving skills which prove to be difficult on the part of the pupils due to misrepresentation of the word problems. Oftentimes, pupils tend to represent the phrase "more than" as addition and the word difference as "- ". This paper aims to address the problem solving skills of grade…

There are a variety of technologies that are increasingly being integrated into mathematics classrooms for their potential to increase student engagement, motivation, understanding, and achievement. YouTube can be an especially useful technology for students to create, share and interact with others, and learn more about mathematics. However, the…