Three lessons are outlined which employ "scholar dollars," pretend bills and coins of different denominations that students can make and use to help solve subtraction, division, and decimal problems. The technique clarifies difficult mathematical concepts by making them less abstract. (PP)

Gifted students attending a week's summer mathematics program completed problems involving elementary number theory ideas and extensions. The sequence of these problems and strategies used are presented to help teachers looking for topics to enrich the mathematical experiences of students in middle grades or older. (JN)

Drawing floor plans for an apartment is used as the basis for giving students practice in applying the concepts of ratio, fractions, and scale. (DT)

This report summarizes findings of current research supported by the Office of Special Education Programs on effective mathematics instruction for students with disabilities. The first brief article notes that most special education teachers do not have sufficient knowledge about the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards and this…

The starting point for this study was the resistant nature of prior knowledge in conceptual change from natural numbers to rational numbers observed in our previous study. Thus, in this study the effects of deliberately teaching the abstraction of the density of numbers on the number line was tested in a quasi-experimental study at the beginning…

The first in a three-volume set, this book focuses on young children between the ages of four and eight as they construct a deeper understanding of numbers and the operations of addition and subtraction. Rather than offer unrelated activities, this book provides a concerted, unified description of development with a focus on big ideas, progressive…

This book was developed for teachers, youth group leaders, after-school child care providers, and parents, who may not have the time or the expertise to develop strategies for preparing students to be effective problem solvers. The content is organized in a pyramid style to make it easy to locate and grasp the information provided. Information on…

Three classroom games for practicing addition skills are described; giving number of players, equipment needed, and directions. All materials can be readily and inexpensively prepared by the teacher. (LS)

Two suggestions for making drill-and-practice activities and one graphing activity are presented: (1) specific directions for making a drill wheel for use with any set of numbers or operation; (2) a game with "happy numbers" for practice in addition and squaring; (3) plotting directions for making holiday pictures. (LS)

A mathematics unit which introduces number concepts through the use of patterns. All activities are based on the formation of patterns involving blocks or tiles of two colors. (RP)

What is meant by meaningful instruction is discussed in terms of interest and relevance, pseudo-real problems, unconscious reinforcement, stories for symbols, and mathematical mirrors. That mathematics must be talked about with and by children is emphasized. (MNS)

Findings on ratio and on fractions from a research project on strategies and errors in secondary mathematics are discussed, with typical errors described. Pupils seemed to learn rules without understanding. (MNS)

Properties of the harmonic number triangle are listed, and ways of generating the elements of harmonic triangles are described. (MNS)

This manipulative learning aid is featured as a tool that allows a teacher to build upon the recognition of number patterns to teach basic mathematical understanding. The activities provide a means to help children refine, develop, and extend their understanding of the number system. (MP)