A new book that focuses on "interactive teaching", a new, more effective technique for helping elementary-school children learn mathematics. KEY TOPICS: It has an interactive teaching approach, with its focus on reasoning, problem-solving, and communicating, has been proven effective with children at all levels of mathematics competence. Coverage examines the use of models and children's intuitive understanding to help young learners develop mathematics concepts and learn problem- solving procedures. Includes a chapter devoted to using interactive teaching with children with special needs. For educators in the field of mathematics.

by Donald J. Albers ix INTRODUCTION In July of 1984 the first national conference on mathematics education in two-year colleges was held at Menlo College. The conference was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Two-year colleges account for more than one-third of all undergraduate enrollments in mathematics, and more than one-half of all college freshmen are enrolled in two-year colleges. These two facts alone suggest the importance of mathematics education in two-year colleges, particularly to secondary schools, four-year colleges, and universities. For a variety of reasons, four-year colleges and universities are relatively unaware of two-year colleges. Arthur Cohen, who was a participant at the "New Directions" conference warns: "Four-year colleges and universities ignore two-year colleges at their own peril." Ross Taylor, another conference participant, encouraged two-year college faculty to be ever mindful of their main source of students--secondary schools- and to work hard to strengthen their ties with them. There are many other reasons why it was important to examine two-year college mathematics from a national perspective: 1. Over the last quarter century, rio other sector of higher education has grown so rapidly as have two-year colleges. Their enrollments tripled in the 60's, doubled in the 70's, and continue to increase rapidly in the 80's. x 2. Twenty-five years ago, two-year colleges accounted for only one-seventh of all undergraduate mathematics enrollments; today the fraction is more than one-third.

This book examines equity from the standpoint of mathematics education - an excellent forum for the topic, since the results are quantifiable and the disparity in performance is stark.

This single-volume reference is designed for readers and researchers investigating national and international aspects of mathematics education at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. It contains more than 400 entries, arranged alphabetically by headings of greatest pertinence to mathematics education. The scope is comprehensive, encompassing all major areas of mathematics education, including assessment, content and instructional procedures, curriculum, enrichment, international comparisons, and psychology of learning and instruction.