This article describes features, consistent messages, and new components of "Mathematics Teaching Today: Improving Practice, Improving Student Learning" (NCTM 2007), an updated edition of "Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics" (NCTM 1991). The new book describes aspects of high-quality mathematics teaching; offers a model for observing,…

Presents an investigation, applicable for grades 3-6, that focuses on the concept of randomness and encourages children to conjecture and to conduct experiments which verify or contradict their intuitions. Involves using hands-on explorations, collecting data, and drawing conclusions on the basis of the information. (JRH)

Presents lessons and reproducible student worksheets for grades three to four and grades five to six to investigate large numbers and comprehend their magnitude. (MKR)

Includes lesson plans and worksheets that deal with transformational geometry, specifically reflections. The lesson for grades three to four focuses on angles of incidence and reflection and that for grades five to six involves mirror images. (MKR)

Presents activities that center on the excitement of going back to school by collecting and analyzing data and exploring probabilities. Contains reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Describes data analysis activities for grades three through six using unshelled peanuts. Includes two reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

This month's investigations deal with patterns and the importance of looking at data from more than a single perspective. The investigations focus upon ordering animals in some way. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)