Presents activities utilized with primary teachers to alleviate instructional concerns about using calculators and provide reasons for using calculators in their mathematics instruction. Activities address the topics of estimation, number sense, numeration, whole number and fraction operations, probability, and problem solving. (MDH)

It is argued that Australian elementary mathematics curricula have been influenced by earlier British and United States educational movements and theories and are out of touch with current research emphasizing a constructivist approach. A new model of young children's numerical development is offered, and recommendations for improving mathematical…

Discusses ways that calculators and computer microworlds, such as LOGO and Shape Makers, can be used as tools for exploration, problem solving, and empowerment in school mathematics. Includes suggestions for classroom activities. (Contains 12 references.) (MKR)

Kindergarten (n=30) and grade 1 (n=15) students of contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds were interviewed to assess their knowledge of number word sequences and spatial patterns and their ability to recognize numerals and use counting to establish numerosity of visible and screened collections. Findings indicate greater variation in abilities…

Reports research findings regarding the learning and teaching of proportional reasoning. Presents four tasks devised to assess students' proportional reasoning and describes four solution strategies for solving these tasks based on the analysis of seventh and eighth graders' correct responses. (MDH)

Describes how one second-grade teacher opened the way to an understanding of mathematical concepts for her students by opening some favorite children's books. Four specific titles along with the mathematical skills they focus on and suggested teaching ideas are presented. Additional resources are included for each title. (BB)

A theoretical discussion of categorization, unit structures and structured units, and fractions as operators was introduced. The thinking of grade-three students (n=3) with regard to the meaning of fractions was investigated in two teaching episodes using the computer environments of SuperPaint and CopyCat. (Contains 14 references.) (MKR)

This study examined the problem-solving strategies and systematic errors of (n=82) preservice elementary school teachers related to place value concepts and decimal representations of rational numbers. Problems were posed in the unfamiliar domain of numeration systems with bases other than base ten. (Contains 13 references.) (MKR)

Mathematics that exists in the Mende culture, an African tribe in Sierra Leone, includes counting, computation, ratios, fractions, forecasting games, and mathematical applications. Presents The Mende representations of these concepts and discusses implications of their integration into mathematics teaching. (MDH)

In addition to works written specifically to enhance the observance of one of a child's first educational benchmarks--the 100th day of school--this article highlights counting books and titles that focus on the number 100. An annotated bibliography of 100th day and related books is included. (AEF)

This article discusses the importance of measurement in providing a foundation for mathematical study and how measurement can be integrated with other mathematical strands. (Contains 1 table.)

Teaching difficulties often require creative approaches. Difficulties are often compounded when students in class show anxiety toward the material presented and, in particular, in the case of quantitative methods--"fear of numbers." This case presented itself in an advanced course in health behavior theory, where teaching the concepts of validity…

The authors examined developmental and individual differences in pure numerical estimation, the type of estimation that depends solely on knowledge of numbers. Children between kindergarten and 4th grade were asked to solve 4 types of numerical estimation problems: computational, numerosity, measurement, and number line. In Experiment 1,…

One possible source of variation in children's mathematical abilities upon entry to school may be the social support of early number skills children receive in the home. In the present study, we explored parental support of preschoolers' counting in the context of an everyday activity and whether parental ability to provide aid is influenced by…

Arithmetic algorithms include two types of rules: conventional rules that may be changed by authority, and may legitimately vary from one classroom or country to another (e.g. putting the sum below, rather than above, the numbers added) and logical rules that involve the logic of the algorithm. Changes in the logical rules produce incorrect…