Helping children to bridge the gap between physical materials and symbolic representations is the focus of this article. Examples are drawn from numerical topics, with several hierarchies illustrated. (MNS)

Students in grades four-six were asked to complete multiplication examples and write a story problem (reported earlier, SE 533 279). Their stories were categorized in terms of their logic and realism. Many errors were noted, leading to the conclusion that knowledge of multiplication does not necessarily lead to logical multiplication. (MNS)

Sixth-grade students and teachers were tested to determine students' metric achievement and their teachers' attitudes toward metric instruction after seven years of regular classroom instruction. Results were somewhat disappointing. (MNS)

Proposed is a plan for changing elementary school teachers' attitudes toward science. Persuading teachers, a mandate to teach science, and rewards for teachers involved in science curriculum development, the three steps in the model, are presented in some detail. Implementing the model is also discussed. (MNS)

Eighty-seven pupils in grades 4-6 completed five multiplication examples and wrote a problem for another example. They were reasonably proficient, with mean scores of 82 percent in grade 4, 75 percent in grade 5, and 97 percent in grade 6. They did less well on developing a problem. (MNS)

Several major factors must be considered when developing or assessing tutorial microcomputer software for mathematics instruction. Both learning considerations and curriculum considerations are discussed in some detail. (MNS)

Use of the hand-dialed, transparent, nonelectronic SEE-Calculator is proposed. Pupils can dial numbers into appropriate columns, watching the gears work; place-value concepts are enhanced. Both activities and flowcharting are suggested. (MNS)

Discusses four problems facing gifted students in elementary science classrooms. Suggests development of teacher-made science packets to resolve these and other problems. A sample lesson on animal classification for grade three is provided. (JN)

Four uses of microcomputers in elementary science education are discussed. These include: (1) drill and practice; (2) simulation; (3) problem solving; and (4) programing. Indicates that mathematics instruction may be enhanced in the same ways. (JN)

It is noted that defining subtraction independently of addition through use of physical objects can help one to illustrate the non-commutativity of this operation. Lack of awareness of the importance of the order of the digits may be a primary cause of errors in compound subtraction. (MP)

The view presented is that many elementary teachers do not understand the nature of science, how the skills are useful in everyday life, and of how science content is involved in many human endeavors. Integrating science with other disciplines is thought to have potential for improving the quality and quantity of science instruction. (MP)

The sample was a randomly selected sixth-grade class in a medium-sized southern city, and consisted of 33 students. The study was designed to answer four questions pertaining to the effect of calculators. Results indicated a calculator-based curriculum has a positive effect on student problem solving. (MP)

The effects of a five-day science workshop on the attitudes of elementary school teachers towards science and teaching science were assessed. The study adds evidence to a growing body of knowledge supporting the notion that attitudes can be changed over short periods of time. (MP)

The study looked at the potential of the Draw-a-Scientist Test (DAST) as a quick, reliable method of assessing elementary school children's images of scientists. Two schools were chosen from very different environments in Western Australia. Results indicated that the DAST is potentially useful to assess global images. (MP)

Results indicated among other things, that: (1) most teachers use few materials other than textbooks in mathematics instruction; (2) use of most materials tends to decrease as grade level increases; (3) calculators are rarely used, but usage tends to increase with grade level; and (4) most teachers reported they want more materials. (MP)