Increasing availability of hand-held calculators in the student's world forces educators to take a hard look to see what course the schools should take in mathematics education. Planned research and development will be necessary in the next decade to explore a variety of options that schools may use. (Author/JP)

Reports on a study into first grade student's interpretations of the equals sign in different contexts. Argues that varying situations affect students' understanding of such arithmetic concepts, including the social interaction patterns in the classroom during arithmetic instruction. (TW)

Presents a method of viewing the reflective properties of the parabola and ellipse. Reinforces previously studied concepts of mathematics useful for individual or classroom projects. (PK)

Argues that the effective use of calculators is important for employees in many areas. Suggests ways that schools might incorporate calculators into mathematics instruction. (PK)

The cube is the most familiar and in many ways the simplest of the five regular polyhedra, and yet it is surprisingly rich mathematically. This article suggests a number of practical activities for the classroom which involve the cube and related polyhedra. (PK)

Suggests that mathematics curricula, which have traditionally been considered culture-free, have a role to play in fostering understanding among members of different cultures, after a period of cultural upheaval. Anthropological and educational sources are used to suggest points of relevance when a mathematical curriculum is designed for…

Argues that there is a sense of surprise and wonder that can result from looking back at problem solutions and there is a potential for then creating unexpected, even memorable, alternative solutions. Example problems with routine solutions and alternative approaches uncovered while "looking back" at the solution are given. (PK)

Suggests that good number sense is fundamental for success in estimation, approximation, and problem solving. Further, large-number concepts are appropriate for development in upper elementary school, high school, and beyond. Presents examples to enhance a sense of large numbers in middle and high school students. (PK)

This article presents some of the optics and mathematics related to what causes a rainbow, why it is brighter inside than out, and why more than one rainbow may appear. (PK)

Competence in dealing with mathematical model building requires mathematical knowledge, technological knowledge about how to develop a model, and reflective knowledge relevant for evaluation of the model building process. A general conceptual framework for identification of reflective knowledge is presented by a structural and a developmental…

Described are the rules and mathematical development of five games for teaching and practicing addition concepts. (PK)

Presented are six problems from diverse areas of mathematics that are appropriate for students of differing age and ability levels. (PK)

Presented are two sets of materials appropriate for exploring different aspects of shape. Ideas about sequences are considered. (PK)

Notes that the derivative of the area of a circle yields the circumference and the derivative of the volume of a sphere yields the surface area. Explores where these or other such relationships are generalizable. (PK)

Mathematics textbooks for grades K-9 were examined to determine how much of content was new content rather than review of old content. New content tends to decrease from grade three through grade eight with lowest amount of new content in books for grades six, seven, and eight (below 40 percent for two series). Differences among series are…