In the 21st - century skills - oriented education, this study aims to bridge the gap in traditional mathematics teaching, which often addresses teamwork and problem - solving skills independently. It focuses on designing and assessing an integrated instructional model using Problem - Based Learning (PBL) via Collaborative Learning (CL) to equip…

In this article, the author describes how to help develop students' conceptual understanding of fractions through the tactical card-based game Nearest to One. Nearest to One promotes number-sense based strategies for comparing fractions, such as benchmarking (e.g., Is the fraction greater or less than one-half?) and building to the next whole,…

Mathematics is not seen as an absolute corpus of well-founded knowledge anymore, but as a human activity, a social phenomenon, part of human culture that evolves historically and intelligibly in a social context. By harnessing the indigenous cultures and their knowledge systems in-depth, this article aims to evaluate how the sustainable…

Successful math word-problem solving is difficult for some students. Getting the right answer involves students engaging correctly in an amalgamation of actions. Schema instruction is an instructional approach aimed at supporting students in identifying the underlying math problem structure to yield an appropriate solution plan. The focus of this…

Use of algorithmic thinking in education has received significant attention as it is grounded on thinking and performing the necessary action in line with a clearly defined purpose. The current study aimed to probe prospective classroom teachers' views on algorithmic thinking skills and use of these skills in education. The research data were…

We report on a teaching experiment with pre-service teachers (PSTs) intended to support their understanding of the validity of mathematical arguments, and their ability to formulate mathematical arguments by conducting case analysis. PSTs used Toulmin's framework (1958/2003) and engaged in collective argumentation while solving crypto-arithmetic…

The U.S. is deficient in producing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals. Competent problem solving is a desirable educational outcome pertinent to STEM education. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of teaching task-specific problem-solving skills using behavior-analytic tactics. Learners have been taught to…

Problem-based learning is generally done with face-to-face interaction. This learning process, however, has not provided a lot of time for learners to find limitless and timeless information and learning resources. It still depends on the teacher as a source of information. Students are very dependent on the presence of lecturers during…

Children's literature can provide useful contexts for teaching mathematics. In this article, the authors discuss the use of the children's book "Measuring Penny" (Leedy 1997) to support Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) (CCSSI 2010) related to length measurement. The authors first describe three types of misconceptions…

This article explores the benefits of using digital technology to support and enhance students' understanding during mathematical inquiry. The use of digital technologies enabled students to focus on the problem-solving aspects of the task such as how to compare and represent the data effectively.

Mathematical modeling is an important and accessible process for elementary school students because it allows them to use mathematics to engage with the world and consider if and when to use it to help them reason about a situation. It fosters productive struggle and twenty-first-century skills that will aid them throughout their lifetime.

The first author's initial attempts at a whole-class mathematics discussion were woefully dysfunctional. Ten second graders showing their answers to a missing addend question about the number of children left riding a school bus did not result in the mathematical epiphany that the textbook promised. She did not give up on using mathematical…

In some math classrooms, students are taught to follow and memorize procedures to arrive at the correct solution to problems. In this article, author Mike Flynn suggests a way to move beyond answer-getting to true problem solving. He describes an instructional approach called three-act tasks in which students solve an engaging math problem in…

With rigor outlined in state and Common Core standards and the addition of constructed-response test items to most state tests, math constructed-response questions have become increasingly popular in today's classroom. Although constructed-response problems can present a challenge for students, they do offer a glimpse of students' learning through…

"Mathematical Thinking: From Assessment Items to Challenging Tasks" is a compilation of 36 problem-based lessons that encourage students to engage in productive struggle and deep thinking. Its 36 full-length lessons for grades 2-8 are each inspired by an actual test item from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).…