This paper discusses the role of the culture in secondary mathematics education. A historical and philosophical look at the relationship between the real world and mathematics and mathematics education is developed. The U.S. secondary mathematics curriculum is explored both historically and philosophically to try to ascertain its changing…

Describes several ways to implement the NCTM Standards in technically enhanced classrooms. Presents examples from "Computer-Intensive Algebra." Provides suggestions for implementation. (YP)

Described is an approach to teaching algebra in a meaningful context by using problem solving to motivate students and increase their retention. Examples of this approach are given. (CW)

Miami-Dade community colleges and middle schools participated in a three-year project designed to improve female students' mathematics skills and prepare them for technical jobs. Faculty encouraged the application of transactional writing in college and middle school algebra, to determine whether combining communication skills with mathematical…

Discusses how students fail to recognize the underlying equivalence when the same set of points is represented by a graph or an equation or a table. Presents activities in which more than one form of representations of the same information are included. (ASK)

The recursive model presented here involves the study of drugs in the bloodstream and their subsequent elimination from the body. Both a basic and a more realistic model are presented and discussed in terms of an algebraic approach, a recursive approach, the graphical representation, and other extensions and connections particularly with models…

The problem-of-the-week (POW) and problem-solving class openers are exemplified as methods for the integration of course-relevant problem solving into a first-year algebra classroom without sacrificing time spent on developing skills and learning concepts. Illustrated examples, as well as problem sources, are included. (JJK)

This case study investigates an experienced secondary school mathematics teacher's understanding of mathematics ("her" math) and decisions she makes about her students' classroom experiences ("their" math). This report focuses on the competing roles of the teacher's growing understanding of novel technology-rich mathematics and her decisions about…

Presents a case study of one high school student's experiences in a first-year algebra course. Emphasizes the use of technology and how it changed the mathematics curriculum. (ASK)

Discussed are the philosophy and procedures behind the introduction of algebra to students in grade 7 in Australia. Included are the importance of concrete experiences, language development, and the consequences involved in this procedure. (CW)

Observations focusing on classroom discourse, uses of graphing calculators, nature of instructional tasks, and instructor-questioning patterns in a high school algebra course found that the teacher modified his teaching strategies and curriculum to accommodate the teaching strategies and topics that arose from the use of the graphing calculator.…

The purpose of this article is to highlight and discuss the role of language as the link between experiences with number patterns and the emergence of algebraic notation. Discussed is a recommended approach. A sample of a written student response is provided. (CW)

This paper considers how the algebra curriculum in secondary mathematics might be reformulated by rethinking both the content of algebra and the approaches to teaching and learning algebraic concepts. It considers how the concept of function can be made a central theme of the algebra curriculum and further suggests that computer software, when…

Presents activities that combine astronomy problems with algebra, geometry, trigonometry, data analysis, and physics. Provides experiences for students in making distance measurements themselves by using the method of parallax. (ASK)

Examines questions raised by the Algebra Project relating to sociocultural contexts in which mathematical learning takes place and the contribution of social processes to the construction of mathematical knowledge. Finds that the project goal of improving minority student prospects in advanced mathematics and science is measurable and well worth…