We report on a group theory activity in which learners explored dihedral symmetries through a tangible geometric model. This approach has historical roots in the work of Felix Klein's Erlangen Program and his "Elementary Mathematics from an Advanced Standpoint." We situate our study with respect to this history as well as current…

An important approach for developing children's algebraic thinking involves introducing them to generalized arithmetic at the time they are learning arithmetic. Our aim in this study was to investigate children's attention to and expression of generality with the subtraction-compensation property, as evidence of a type of algebraic thinking known…

This study examined the effects of a teacher-led learning-strategy intervention program on fourth-grade students' reported use and perceived effectiveness of rehearsal and comprehension-oriented learning strategies. During 18 program units, teachers taught about learning and various learning strategies, including visualisation, elaboration and…

Teaching using the principles of mathematical resilience can lead to a broad range of implementations with different emphases, all intended to mitigate the development of mathematical anxiety in learners and its attendant problems. This article considers 12 primary teachers' responses to the challenge of developing mathematical resilience within…

Multiplication and division are complex constructs for young children to understand. In this article, the authors explore young children's ability to visualise and make groups of objects before they had formally been introduced to multiplication and division. The results provide some valuable insights into students' early understandings of…

Recent studies show that English learning students are a growing population within the United States school system. Language barriers have been shown to negatively influence reading scores as well as math scores, and math scores are a predictor of future academic success in many subject areas. This qualitative action research study demonstrates…

The present study is a part of design research in local instructional theory in a pre-algebraic lesson using the Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) approach. The article will focus on recommendations for the type of pre-algebra class that supports elementary school students' algebraic thinking. As design research study, it followed the three…

In this article Kay Owens explains how a real-world context can be used to encourage student noticing and deeper analysis of geometric structures when students are asked to draw what they saw. Kay presents examples of students' drawings made during a school trip to the zoo which followed a series of inquiry learning experiences in geometry.

There is a large body of research that suggests a sound understanding of rational number is vital for success in all areas of mathematics, at school and beyond. In the Australian Curriculum, fractions are formally introduced from Year 1, yet there is evidence to suggest that current approaches are not leading to deep understanding in later years.…

The current study provides a meta-analysis of global research on using representations to support the learning of mathematics in Pre-K through Grade 5. A total of 13 primary studies encompassing 1,941 subjects was analyzed. The weighted mean effect size for the 13 studies was reported to be ES = 0.53 (SE = 0.05). A 95% confidence interval around…

Perceiving a 3-dimensional (3D) diagram on a 2-dimensional (2D) surface or plane can be a challenging endeavor for students at the elementary or primary grade levels. Adding to this challenge are the intricacies present in understanding the processes involved in geometric problems of such a nature. To ease the comprehension of these processes,…

Many studies in the past decades have focused on low and typical mathematics achievers, yet little is known about children with high mathematics achievement, particularly at a young age. The current study aimed to fill this gap and started from the early work of Krutetskii (1976) as a theoretical lens to study the characteristics of high…

The teaching and learning fractions is one of the most problematic areas in primary school mathematics. A large number of studies have engaged paper-and-pencil test to measure students' instrumental understanding about fractions but few have sought to learn about children's fraction sense. This paper reports a study that investigated fraction…

Embedding mathematics in a relatable context has changed the way Christie Henderson's elementary students view the subject. In this article, Henderson discusses how presenting mathematics through a relatable context enables students to visualize the math and make a pictorial representation to aid them in solving it. When relevant and relatable…

The most challenging parts of teaching mathematics are engaging students and helping them understand the connections between mathematics concepts. In this volume, you'll find a collection of low floor, high ceiling tasks that will help you do just that, by looking at the big ideas at the third-grade level through visualization, play, and…