• School Mathematics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.553-564
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• 2012

Story corners in elementary school mathematics practice activity books are newly given for students not only to have interests in mathematics, but to solve story problems related to already learned mathematical contents. In this study, we investigate the story corners in third grade mathematics practice activity books to analyze the contents according to their utilizations. We also suggest their implications. Based on our analysis, we have the following results. First, there are cases where the contents of the story are not related to the corresponding learning contents. Second, there are cases where some the contents or the posed problems related to the story are hard to be understood by students. Third, there are cases where the posed problems are not related to the corresponding learning contents.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2017

The concept of variable is a big idea to develop algebraic thinking. Variable has multiple meanings such as the unknown, a tool for generalization, and the relationship between varying quantities. In this study we analyzed in what ways the meanings of variable were presented in the current elementary mathematics textbooks and workbooks. The results showed that the most frequent meaning of variable was 'the unknown', 'a tool for generalization', and 'the relationship between varying quantities' in order. A close look at the results revealed that the same symbol was often used in representing different values of variable as the unknown. In taking variable as a tool for generalization, questions to provoke generalization were sometimes included not in the textbooks but in the teachers' manuals. The main focus in dealing with variable as the relationship between varying quantities was on finding out the dependent values compared to the independent ones. Building on these results, this study is expected to suggest implications for how to deal with variable concept in elementary mathematics instructional materials.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.329-350
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• 2017

This paper examined vocabulary used in elementary mathematics textbooks and workbooks for the grade band of 5~6. This study focused on the adequacy of vocabulary using 9-degree of semantic difficulty. The results of this study showed that most vocabulary in the textbooks and workbooks was adequate for the target grades. In some cases, however, vocabulary that was supposed to be difficult for the fifth and sixth graders was employed in a way that the meaning of such vocabulary was difficult for students to infer in the given context. The most frequent vocabularies in the main activities of the mathematics textbooks included 'method', 'investigate', 'number', 'communicate', and 'represent'. Based on these results, this study provides 5~6 grade textbook writers with implications on what to further consider in dealing with vocabulary in instructional materials.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.227-252
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• 2012

Given the lack of research on the measurement domain, this paper analyzed the statements related to length and area in the curricular materials developed under the 7th and the current mathematics curriculum in terms of the degree of guidance and the key learning elements of measurement. The results showed that despite the similarity of the most prevalent guidance type and learning elements, the current materials used open-ended or combined types in place of guided types and employed measurement reasoning and components while decreasing mere calculation in measurement, in comparison with the previous textbooks and workbooks. This paper close with implications on the revision of curricular materials related to the measurement domain as well as methodological suggestions of textbook analysis.

• School Mathematics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.903-922
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• 2016

This paper examined vocabulary in elementary mathematics textbooks and workbooks for the grade band of 3~4. This study focused on the adequacy of vocabulary using 9-degree of semantic difficulty. The results of this study showed that about three to eight percent of vocabulary with difficulty for students in grades 3~4 was employed. Whereas some difficult vocabularies were used along with the picture that helps students understand their meanings, others were presented without any illustrative tools. The most frequent vocabularies in the main activities of the mathematics textbooks included 'investigate', 'represent', 'number', 'how many', and 'method'. Based on these results, this study provides textbook writers with implications on what to further consider in dealing with vocabulary in instructional materials.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.465-486
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• 2010

Studying the definition and building a foundation about variables during elementary school is a crucial factor before students study the variable in depth in middle school. So, forming a basis for understanding variable in this period should be treated with importance, because it is the first step in forming a clear understanding of the concept of variables. According to analysis of the types of letters used in current textbooks, we can see that too much emphasis was placed on type 1(letter evaluated), type 3(letter used as an Object). By not utilizing the various types of letter usage we reduce the situation to one which is removed from the context and an automatous style of learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was the development about early algebra learning materials which use diverse types of letters. We have analyzed the types of letters used from the 4-ga to 6-na mathematics textbooks and the 4-ga to the 6-na workbooks. To make learning materials for well-balanced letter use, we developed learning materials focused on early algebra with the 6-ga and the 6-na textbooks.

• School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.833-846
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• 2013

In this paper, the real state of using terms 'product', 'place value', 'nine-nine', and 'numeral' incorrectly or inconsistently in the area in Korean elementary school 1-2 grade math textbooks/workbooks are analyzed. Based on this analysis, the following four conclusions are presented. First, 'Product' should be defined in the ${\ll}$Math 3${\gg}$ textbook like 'sum' and 'difference'. Multiplication is introduced in the ${\ll}$Math 3${\gg}$ textbook/workbook, however, the result of that calculation is not referred to 'product'. Second, there is a need to reconsider the using the term 'place value' in 2nd elementary mathematics. In the ${\ll}$Math 3${\gg}$ and the ${\ll}$Math 4${\gg}$ textbooks/workbooks are not using the term 'place value' clearly. Third, the word 'addition nine-nine table' and 'subtraction nine-nine table' should not be used in the ${\ll}$Math 2${\gg}$ and the ${\ll}$Math 4${\gg}$ textbooks. Using the term 'multiplication nine-nine' and 'multiplication nine-nine table' in elementary school mathematics textbooks/workbooks instead of using the term 'nine-nine' and 'nine-nine table' respectively would be the possible cause of these inaccurate derivatives. Fourth, in 1st and 2nd elementary mathematics 'numeral' and 'number' should be used discriminately. There is a need to reconsider the using the term 'number' uniformly if possible.