Problem Solving: Dealing With Data in The Elementary School

1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 256-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Bohan ◽  
Beverly Irby ◽  
Dolly Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Evaluation Standards

Standard 11 of the K-4 recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics and Standard 10 of the grades 5-8 portion of this document suggest that students be given opportunities to—

Integrating Manipulatives and Computers in Problem-Solving Experiences

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-10
Author(s):  
Sue Brown
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Mathematics Instruction ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Mathematics Standards ◽  
Good Mathematics Instruction ◽  
K 12

In 1980, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics stated that “problem solving must be the focus of school mathematics.” In 1989 the Council reaffirmed that belief with the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (Standards). Standard 1 for grades K–12 is “Mathematics as Problem Solving.” The Standards also asserts that “a computer should be available in every classroom for demonstration purposes, and every student should have access to a computer for individual and group work.” Also according to the Standards, “manipulative materials are necessary for good mathematics instruction.” In a typical classroom, problem solving may be taught, manipulative materials may be used, or students may be working at a computer. These functions, however, are usually completed as disjoint activities. Integrating these activities is possible, and this article illustrates how it can be done.

Developing a Problem-Solving Lesson

1989 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Pamala Byrd Cemen
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Lesson Plans ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Mathematical Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Levels

Problem solving is one of the most important mathematical abilities that teachers can foster in students, as evidenced by its prominent role in NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) and An Agenda for Action (1980). Because of the increased availability of calculators and computers, knowledge of which computations are necessary is more important than proficiency in carrying out those computations. As a result, elementary school teachers are being encouraged and entreated to teach problem solving. However, teaching such a topic at higher cognitive levels is far from easy; the key is to be able to ask good questions. Because excellent problem-solving questions are seldom created “on the spot,” teachers will benefit from writing lesson plans that include questions they can ask at crucial moments, keeping in mind they may not need the questions at all.

Power On!: Learning Statistics with Technology

1994 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-136
Author(s):  
Gary Kader ◽  
Mike Perry
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Real Data ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Problem Solving Process ◽  
K 12

In its Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics recommends that the K-12 mathematics curriculum be broadened and designates statistics as an area deserving increased attention. The standards document promotes the concept that statistics be learned through the study of real problems with real data collected by the students. Rather than focus on developing formulas from which answers are simply computed, teachers should present statistics in a coherent fashion and develop the topic as a whole problem-solving process.

The fourth operation is not fundamental—fractional numbers and problem solving

1975 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Marilyn J. Zweng
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Elementary School Mathematics ◽  
Fractional Numbers ◽  
School Mathematics Curriculum

Few topics in the elementary school mathematics curriculum are a greater waste of time than division of fractional numbers. It is seldom used to solve problems, and those problems which children are taught to solve by division of fractional numbers are dealt with just as adequately by resorting to multiplication.

Developing Spatial Thinking In The Middle Grades: Designing A Space Station

1990 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Barbara Moses
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Physical World ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Spatial Thinking ◽  
National Council ◽  
Elementary School Mathematics ◽  
Geometric Figures ◽  
Spatial Sense

The recently published Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Commission on Standards for School Mathematics 1989, 21) clearly states that educators should devote less attention to “ complex paper-andpencil computations” and “rote memorization of rules.” The time currently spent in the elementary school mathematics curriculum on these topics should instead be devoted to other areas, such as geometry and problem solving. Students should “visualize and represent geometric figures with special attention to developing spatial sense” and learn to appreciate “geometry as a means of describing the physical world” (p. 112). But elementary school mathematics textbooks typically contain few activities that deal with the development of spatial sense.

ONE POINT OF VIEW: We Must Have “Designated Math Leaders” in the Elementary School!

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
James V. Bruni
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
School Level ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Agents Of Change

NCTM's development of the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and the recent companion document, Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991), is an extraordinary achievement. At a time when many agree that we urgently need change in mathematics education, these sets of standards project an exciting vision of what mathematics learning can be and how all students can develop “mathematical power.” They establish a broad framework to guide reform efforts and challenge everyone interested in the quality of school mathematics programs to work collaboratively to use them as a basis for change. How will we meet this challenge? The Editorial Panel believes that translating that vision into reality at the elementary school level will be possible only if elementary school teachers are involved in taking leadership roles as agents of change.

Informing Learning Through the Clinical Interview

1991 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 44-46
Author(s):  
Madeleine J. Long ◽  
Meir Ben-Hur
Keyword(s):  
Student Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Interview ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Teaching Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Paper And Pencil ◽  
Primary Assessment

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) and Professional Srandards for Teaching Mathematics (1989) endorse the view that assessment should be made an integral part of teaching. Although many of the student outcomes described in the Srandards cannot properly be assessed using paper-and-pencil tests, such tests remain the primary assessment tools in today's classroom.

The Wonder and Creativity in “Looking Back” at Problem Solutions

1988 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-434
Author(s):  
Stanley F. Taback
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Mathematics Instruction ◽  
Position Paper ◽  
School Mathematics ◽  
National Council ◽  
Mathematical Competence ◽  
Mathematics Educators ◽  
Looking Back

Mathematics educators have always viewed problem solving as a preferential objective of mathematics instruction. It was not, however, until the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics published its position paper An Agenda for Action: Recommendations for School Mathematics of the 1980s that problem solving truly came of age. As its very first recommendation, the Council (1980) directed that “problem solving be the focus of school mathematics in the 1980s” and proclaimed that “performance in problem solving will measure the effectiveness of our personal and national possession of mathematical competence.”

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