Describes study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive videodisc program Mastering Fractions. The videodisc program is compared with traditional fractions curriculum and teaching methods in sixth grade classes; pretests, posttests, and mastery tests used are discussed; and results of the study are analyzed. (LRW)

Fourth grade children (n=20) were matched on a pretest and randomly assigned to either a wooden base-10 block or computerized microworld group. Instruction was designed to establish relationships between notation and meaning, extending whole number numeration to decimal numeration. Neither group changed whole-number notational methods nor had…

Presents five activities focusing on mental computation and estimation for the K-3, 3-5, 4-6, and 6-8 grade levels that require the student, acting as a judge, to review solutions to problems and to pronounce and justify a verdict. Provides suggested materials, questions, possible extensions, answers, and worksheets for each activity. (MDH)

Analyzes a classroom lesson in which a student teacher was unsuccessful in providing a conceptually based justification for the standard division-of-fractions algorithms, focusing on the student teacher's beliefs about good mathematics teaching and learning to teach. Attempts to understand why the lesson failed, what it reveals about learning to…

Reports case studies using personal construct psychology and the logic of fuzzy sets to elucidate the content and organization of two elementary school teachers' knowledge of fractions and mathematical pedagogy. Results identified four personal constructions that affected classroom events; knowledge of fractions, general pedagogical knowledge,…

Presents a series of five activities that introduce division of fractions through real-world situations. Discusses problems related to resurfacing a highway, painting dividing stripes on a highway, covering one area A with another area B, looking for patterns, and maximizing the result of a division problem. Includes reproducible worksheets. (MDH)

Discusses how a single problem can be utilized to discuss mathematical skills and concepts at several different levels. Presents a problem involving fractions examined at the following four levels according to the abilities of the students: (1) finding solutions; (2) identifying methods for finding solutions; (3) exploring similar examples; and…

Examines students' (25 low achieving fourth graders) understanding of conceptual features of decimals. Assessment results indicated that students' thinking was influenced by the types of concrete materials used to represent decimals; that low achievers' understanding of some important properties of decimals increased; and that understanding grew…

A collection of articles from the journals "Arithmetic Teacher" and "Teaching Children Mathematics" provide ideas for the instruction and use of teacher-made instructional aids. Guidelines used to select articles for this collection called for the articles to have a clear purpose and be related to a contemporary topic in the elementary school…

This publication is an abstracted compilation of 15 investigations selected from other journals. The information includes purpose, rationale, research design and procedures, findings, interpretations, abstractor's comments, and references. This journal includes the following reports: (1) "A Constructivist Approach to Numeration in Primary…

The papers and conference proceedings recorded in this monograph are from a conference on effective mathematics teaching. In addition to acknowledgements, foreword, introduction and participant list, the following articles are included: (1) "Teaching for Higher-Order Thinking in Mathematics: The Challenge for the Next Decade"; (2)…

By using word problems relevant to agricultural occupations, this workbook presents a concept-oriented approach to competency development in seven areas of basic mathematics: (1) the expression of numbers as figures and words; (2) the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; (3) ratios and…

This study investigated aptitude-treatment interactions (ATI) in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students' learning in large and small group teaching approaches. Each of two elementary teachers taught a two-week fractions unit to two classes of randomly assigned students. Each class received one approach. Students completed aptitude measures at the…

Provides several examples of the use of Logo in working with fractions and manipulating vectors. Includes an exercise which deals with the relationship between the two and several exercises which address various problems using different kinds of fractions. (TW)

Provides a bibliography of children's literature exploring mathematical concepts: classification; place value and numeration systems; counting, addition, and subtraction; multiplication and division; fractions; estimation; big numbers; geometry; measurement; and games and puzzles. Highlights one book for each concept, suggests class activities,…