Describes the Algebra Project, which teaches algebra to middle school students and prepares them for college preparatory mathematics. The project includes some of the following elements: (1) a curriculum addressing the conceptual leap from arithmetic to algebra; (2) an experientially based curricular process; (3) high achievement expectations; and…

Described is an interdisciplinary program designed to coordinate the physics and calculus courses for seniors in a Massachusetts high school. Target audience, benefits, team coordination, and impact are discussed. A list of suggested crossover topics is provided. (CW)

Discusses the development of early attitudes to mathematics and how these may account for the differences in the numbers of boys and girls achieving success with mathematics in the secondary school and electing to study mathematics at the senior level. (YP)

Discusses an activity for the use of tangrams in which students flip, rotate, slide, or patch the pieces in order to construct a particular shape. Examples include provisions for constructing two trapezoids; transforming a scalene triangular region into quadrilaterals of equal area; and transforming a cross into a picture frame. (RT)

Discusses a television program, "Mathematical Eye," for children aged 11-13. Describes sample programs, style, and supplemental materials, such as a teacher's note, investigations pack, book, and software. Lists the titles of 10 programs. (YP)

The author suggests that spreadsheet computer programs can be an effective tool in the mathematics classroom. In addition to being used to solve many real-world problems, spreadsheets can be used to promote understanding of concepts and principles from geometry, algebra, and trigonometry. (PK)

This set of activity sheets requires students to organize and display data with a box-and-whiskers graph. Students use the plot as a summary display to detect patterns and to highlight the important features of the data for purposes of comparison. (PK)

Shortcomings of current curricula for geometry in the elementary school are discussed. The use of the computer programing language Logo to develop geometric ideas is described, with supporting research. (MNS)

An Australian study of year 11 girls investigated factors in their choice of mathematics instruction beyond required courses. It is argued that the campaigns being undertaken to encourage girls to choose mathematics are sometimes undermined by the structure of the mathematics curriculum available to them. (MSE)

Higher-order thinking skills in science and mathematics were compared for high school students in large and small schools, controlling for SES, number of advanced courses offered, and enrollment rate in those courses. School size, number of advanced courses offered, and rurality had no effect on high-order thinking skills. (KS)

Reviews the general principles of the reforms addressed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Curriculum and Evaluation Standards and applies them to community college mathematics. Suggests that challenges to reforming mathematics curricula come primarily from teacher preparation and instruction methodologies and from student-related…

Describes the new development of mathematics education in the Peoples Republic of China. Explains changes that happened in the National Curriculum, teaching research, and the progress of our pupils. (Author)

Investigated the upper limits of (n=22) seventh-grade students' informal processes in solving first degree equations in one unknown prior to instruction. Results indicated the existence of a cognitive gap between arithmetic and algebra characterized as the students' inability to operate spontaneously with or on the unknown. (37 references)…

Surveyed 190 Greek kindergarten teachers about their academic background and use of mathematical activities in the classroom. Found that teachers with advanced academic preparation, with more experience, who taught in urban areas, or who taught at private kindergartens, used more mathematical activities with their students than less educated, less…

Calculus must evolve or face the prospect of becoming irrelevant. The minimum level of classroom technology now available requires us to rethink the content of our calculus courses. Proposes using graphing calculators and computer algebra systems to include the following topics: local linearity, optimization problems, families of curves, and…