Francis Fennell
This article, the first in a series, discusses how to put the new NCTM publication,
Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematic A Quest for Coherence,
into practice.
Gregorio Ponce
Conceptual misunderstandings students have about integers. Article describes a hands-on activity using a regular deck of playing cards that facilitates class discussion about integers and adding and subtracting integers. Included is a PowerPoint presentation of the rules for the game.
Cynthia Anhalt; Matthew Ondrus; Virginia Horak
A professional development experience in which teachers from schools with Latino student populations participated in two mathematics lessons taught in Chinese. Teachers experience linguistic challenges similar to those that many ELL students face. Article
discusses teachers' reflections and insights about teaching ELL students and aspects about learning mathematics in a second language.
Christopher Scaptura; Jennifer Suh; Greg Mahaffey
A way to introduce fraction, decimal, and percent equivalents by linking student-created Op Art with examples of twentieth-century abstract painting. Article discusses differentiating instruction according to student ability level. Includes examples of student work and worksheets.
Margaret Smith; Amy Hillen; Christy Catania
The use of geometric pattern tasks for developing students' capacities to reason algebraically and establish classroom norms at the beginning of the school year. Article discusses one middle school's pattern-revolution unit on patterns that is used to launch each school year. Includes lesson plan and examples of student work.
Jeff Gregg; Diana Underwood Gregg
An instructional sequence to help students understand why integer operations work the way they do. Discusses the idea of an integer as a composite unit and uses a debit/credit model in an "allowance" context. Includes different representations of integer values using the model.