A study examined a method of instruction using video-based problems to help four incarcerated adults with emotional and learning disabilities improve their procedural and problem solving skills. A theoretical model for teaching mathematics guided instruction. Results showed that individuals learned to compute fractions and solve a multi-step,…

This study of sixth grade industrial arts students examined the relationships among declarative, conceptual, and procedural knowledge in the acquisition of ruler measurement skills. Results for 90 sixth graders indicate that the line identification method was superior overall to the fractional method, for both acquisition and retention of skills.…

Examines the development of students' understandings about fractions during six weeks of instruction. Reports that all students possessed informal knowledge disconnected from their knowledge of fraction symbols and procedures and that knowledge of rote procedures often interfered with students' attempts to build on their informal knowledge.…

The focus is on using mathematical concepts and operations to decode holiday messages. Worksheets are provided for levels one-two, three-four, five-six, and seven-eight. (MNS)

Examined is the effectiveness of a computer software package designed to be consistent with a fraction strip chart model. The materials are described; they were used with three fourth-grade classes, while two other classes acted as controls. (MNS)

Describes the design principles of computer-assisted learning (CAL) environments in which the software is interactive yet adaptable to different styles of learning and teaching, illustrated with a mathematics application. Following implementation, initial evaluation data taken from students showed marked performance improvements, and indicated how…

The article discusses ways to make mathematics instruction with learning-disabled and other children more developmentally appropriate by building on children's informal understandings in active purposeful learning, using less direct instruction and paper-and-pencil work. Ideas are applied to the teaching of fractions. Instructional materials are…

The errors and strategies made by students who consistently use the incorrect-addition strategy on "hard" ratio tasks were investigated. The characteristics of these "adders," such as awareness of noninteger multiples, the use of fractions and decimals, awareness of both within and between ratios, and distinguishing nonratio…

Presented is the ancient Egyptian algorithm for the operations of multiplication and division of integers and fractions. Theorems involving unit fractions, proved by Fibonacci, justifying and extending the Egyptian or Ahmes' methods into the Hindu-Arabic numeric representational system are given. (MDH)

Illustrated is the use of computer algebra software to assist in both a computational and theoretical way to develop the underlying theory of polynomials and the partial fraction decomposition of a rational function. Background information and a discussion of theoretical considerations are provided. (KR)

This study explored first graders' fraction learning when the teacher elicited and built on children's informal knowledge of fractions during discussions of equal-sharing tasks; the study focused on key classroom interactions resulting in cognitive change. Findings suggest that thinking about fractions is influenced by the structure of the child's…

Describes how multicultural children's literature was used to launch a series of lessons to help children gain insights into a wide range of mathematics concepts and cultures. (ASK)

Tested 3- to 7-year-olds' ability to calculate with whole numbers, fractions, and mixed-numbers, in a task in which an amount was displayed, then hidden. Subjects were to determine the hidden amount resulting when numbers were added or substracted. Found that, although fraction problems were more difficult than whole-number problems, competence on…

This manual is a dictionary of some 150 errors made by students in their work in mathematics. A precise definition and examples are given for each of these errors and these, combined with a description of common causes of the error, form a background for diagnosis of student problems with arithmetic. Teaching strategies and ideas, each linked to a…

The objective of the Easy Math Program is to give all students (not just those with mathematical talent) an intuitive grasp of the quantitative principles on which mathematics is based, so they will be able to execute its basic operations with insight, and move on to its higher concepts with confidence. The program approaches this objective by a…