• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.91-109
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• 2007

This study deals with the problem of transition from arithmetic to algebra and the relationship between elementary and secondary school mathematics for systems of linear equations. In elementary school, activity for solving word problems related to systems of linear equations in two variables falls broadly into using two strategies: Guess and check and making a table. In secondary school, those problems are solved algebraically, for example, by solving systems of equations using the technique of elimination. The analysis of mathematics textbooks shows that there is no link between strategies of elementary school mathematics and secondary school mathematics. We devised an alternative way to reinforce link between elementary and secondary school mathematics for systems of linear equations. Drawing a diagram can be introduced as a strategy solving word problems related to systems of linear equations in two variables in elementary school. Moreover it is closely related to the idea of the technique of elimination of secondary school mathematics. It may be a critical juncture of elementary-secondary school mathematics in the case of systems of linear equations in two variables.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.199-220
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• 2018

This is a traditional education content that has been consistently handled in elementary school mathematics textbooks since the first curriculum in Korea. It has been mainly used to find out the properties of the solid figure or to save the surface area. However, as the importance of spatial ability is increasingly emphasized, the nets of solids can be a very suitable learning material for dealing with the spatial ability. Therefore, in this study, we examined how the nets of solids were taught in elementary school mathematics curriculum and textbooks in Korea, and based on the analysis, we analyzed the contents of the nets of solids covered in textbooks of Japan, Singapore, Finland and Hong Kong. Through this study, we suggested the enhancement of activities to find the right nets, the presentation of solid figure from various angles, and the nets of solids with patterns for improvement of spatial visualization and spatial orientation.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-38
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• 2012

In this study, elementary mathematics textbooks from grade 1 to grade 6 of Korea and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture are compared. This study is limited to number area. In this study, textbooks of Korea are developed according to the 2007 curriculum and published between 2009 and 2011 and textbooks of Yanbian are published between 2009 and 2010. Seven implications for developing Korean textbooks can be drew from Yanbian textbooks as conclusions. First, it is necessary to consider using counters to teach place values. Second, it is necessary to consider reading inequalities in style of one to one correspondence between signs and words. Third, it is necessary to consider mentioning explicitly that it is possible to express the concrete whole which has a continuous quantity as natural number 1. Fourth, it is necessary to consider introducing term of fraction line that separates the numerator and denominator. Fifth, it is necessary to consider mentioning explicitly the properties of the fraction. Sixth, it is necessary to consider broadening examples to use decimals. Seventh, it is necessary to consider stating clearly that it is possible to make an additional place of decimals by adding a zero at the right end of the decimals.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.505-525
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated how multiplication by 2-digit numbers had been taught in elementary mathematics textbooks of Korea, Japan, Singapore, and USA. As a result of analysis, we found as follows. Korean textbooks do not teach the multiplication by 10 and the multiplication by power of 10, but Japanese, Singapore, and US textbooks explicitly teach related content. In the '×tens' teaching, Japanese and American textbooks teach formally the law of association of multiplication applied in the process of calculating the partial product of multiplication. The standard multiplication algorithm generally followed a standard method of recording partial product result according to the law of distribution, but the differences were confirmed in the multiplication model, the teaching method of the law of distribution, and the notation of the last digit '0'. Based upon these results, we suggested some proposals for improving the multiplication teaching.

• School Mathematics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.315-335
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• 2013

Probability has distinctive characteristics which are different from other areas of school mathematics. The critical change can be noticed in the domain, 'probability and statistics' of 2009 revised national curriculum for elementary school mathematics. This indicates that the concept of chance is supposed to be taught in the 5~6 grade band instead of the definition of probability which is moved to the middle school level. The purpose of this study is to seek desirable methods for teaching the concept of chance which reflect the achievement criteria and the attention point for teaching and learning of the curriculum at the point of time when textbooks haven't yet been developed. To do this, based on theoretical considerations and comparative analysis of the curricula in the longitudinal - latitudinal dimensions respectively, the validity of the latest curriculum change was confirmed and several learning activities were devised. And then two lessons were planned for applying these activities to eight fifth graders and were implemented along the plan. As a result, the relevance of the learning activities was examined and students' difficulties in learning the concept of chance with educational implications were discussed.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.173-190
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• 2021

Education for Sustainable Development is an imperative mean to achieve the sustainable development which is the key idea that meets the needs of both present and succeeding generations by reconciling environmental protection, social development and economic growth. This study addressed the following question. First, what is the overall structure of the ESD contents presented in the textbooks? Second, How are the sub-contents of ESD distributed in the textbooks? Lastly, How are the ESD contents connected to mathematics in the textbooks? For this purpose, the contents in the elemtentary mathematics textbooks from 1^st to 6^th grades were analyzed at both macro and micro levels through quantitative and qualitative research methods. As results, contents related to environmental, social, and economic dimensions were presented from the first grade. The contents were involved the mathematics content domains of Numbers and Operations, Data and Possibilities, and Patterns. However, the contents were presented intensively in middle and high grades, and environmental topics accounted for a high proportion. Among the activities related to ESD, many were focused on solving problems mathematically while some were presented to solve problems as well as to consider sustainability through the activities. Based on the results, the study aims to provide implications for the direction of mathematics education for sustainable development in elementary school.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.475-496
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• 2018

Although the multiplication of decimal fractions is expected to be easy for students to understand because of the similarity to natural numbers multiplication in computing methods, students show many errors in the multiplication of decimal fractions. This is a result of the instruction focused more on skill mastery than conceptual understanding. This study is a basic study for effectively developing a unit of multiplication of decimal fractions. For this purpose, we analyzed the curriculums' performance standards, significance in teaching-learning and evaluation, contents and methods for teaching multiplication of decimal fractions from the 7th curriculum to the revised curriculum of 2015 and the textbooks' activities and lessons. Further, we analyzed preceding studies and introductory books to suggest effective directions for developing teaching unit. As a result of the analysis, three implications were obtained: First, a meaningful instruction for estimation is needed. Second, it is necessary to present a visual model suitable for understanding the meaning of decimal multiplication. Third, the process of formalizing an algorithms for multiplying decimal fractions needs to be diversified.

• School Mathematics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.485-500
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate how elementary mathematics teachers use and implement a reform-oriented mathematics curriculum material, Everyday Mathematics, and to examine what features the curriculum material has. Eight elementary mathematics teachers in the United States participated in the study. Data sources consist of teacher classroom observation write-ups, interviews, and the curriculum material. The results from the analysis of the curriculum material suggest that 80 percent of the tasks are at the high-level in terms of cognitive demand and 26 percent of tasks are identified as transparent. The results also show that the teachers appeared to adapt the curriculum material and partially take suggestions or activities out of the curriculum material in enacting them in their mathematics classrooms. The analysis of enacted tasks suggests that the levels of cognitive demand were shifted from high-level to low-level; 27 percent of the high-level tasks in the curriculum material were maintained at the high-level as enacted in the mathematics classrooms. The level of cognitive demand shifted in many cases; shifts from high-level to low-level occurred. This contributes to the curriculum material not being transparent to teachers.

• Journal of Educational Research in Mathematics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.623-644
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• 2014

Many researchers have supported in various aspects that elementary students should experience alternative algorithms as well as formal standard one for addition and subtraction. Korean elementary mathematics textbooks have some units for alternative algorithms for addition and subtraction. In special, the change of unit sequence in the second grade revised mathematics textbooks may cause the necessity for discussion about teaching sequence and teaching purpose between alternative algorithms and formal standard one. Therefore, this study aims to consider the purpose of teaching alternative algorithms and to induce implications for their teaching strategies and sequence. To do this, related references, curriculum and textbooks were analyzed. Four lessons were observed and three teachers were interviewed. The main content of this study is the result of analysis on students' activities and teachers'teaching approaches. This study also includes didactical implications based on the result.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.185-204
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• 2008

The purposes of this study are to analyze sentence structures of word problems suggested in educational math programs for the 2nd grade elementary students and error patterns in sentence interpretation, and examine how sentence structures influence on errors during sentence comprehension. Based on the results of the analysis on 168 word problems suggested in math textbooks for the 2nd grade elementary students and error patterns observed while 160 the 2nd grade elementary students attempted to solve math word problems, easy and simple vocabularies are repeatedly used in the sentence structures of word problems and specific real life materials such as fruits, books, the number of people and etc. were repeatedly used. 51.56% of errors in sentence interpretation observed was higher than 39.20% of calculation errors and backtracking operation, a length of sentences, the numbers used in questions and off were analyzed to be involved in the errors in interpretation. Therefore, it is very important to make word problems from a student's points of view rather than a teacher's point of view and the study suggests that teachers help students learn basic sentence interpretation skills.